What to do if a flood or storm has damaged your home
Step 1: Start the claim process
When you make a claim, we'll ask you if you need 'make safe' emergency repairs. This means doing some preliminary repair work to reduce the risk of further damage so that your home is safe to live in, or safe to clean up after the incident.
Step 2: Document the damage for your claim
Documenting the damage helps you get the information you need for your claim and will put you in a better position to clean up and potentially throw out damaged items. Here's what you need to do:
Make a detailed list of all damage
Start the documentation process
Find any receipts
Step 3: Clean up the area to prevent further damage
Starting the clean-up process can help get things back to normal. Here are some tips for cleaning up after a flood or storm:
Once you've taken photos or samples, safely remove any items that could cause further damage or pose a health risk.
Wear protective clothing and be aware of hazardous material.
Ask State Emergency Service (SES) and your local council about waste collection. For example, whether there's free kerbside pick-up for households impacted by a flood or storm.
Throw out any water-damaged items that can't be washed because they may be contaminated.
Once you've cleaned up and removed debris, then you can disinfect surfaces and dry out your home. Open the doors and windows during daylight hours and use any available fans to increase ventilation and remove dampness.
Consider your safety before tackling mould. For a guide on what to look out for, see ABC's Emergency Guide on how to clean up mould and let us know if there are still traces of mould when you make your claim.
