Insurers have received more than 6,000 claims relating to the Mid-North Coast and Hunter region floods, with 80 per cent relating to damage to homes.
The latest uptick in claims numbers and feedback from on-the-ground shows that clean-up and recovery is expected to be long-term and that impacted communities will require ongoing support.
Claims have increased by more than 20 per cent from yesterday's tally.
The ICA and insurers have deployed significant resources to support communities:
- An Insurance Hub has been set up at Taree Leagues Sport Centre and will run to 13 June offering claims support
- Insurer representatives also are present in Recovery Centers to provide a one-stop-shop for recovery support
- The ICA has deployed a designated catastrophe operations team to coordinate insurer response and support
- The event has been upgraded to an Insurance Catastrophe, meaning additional resources are being deployed and insurers are prioritising claims from this event.
Insurers have also invested in improved communication channels with consumers, including through customer advocates, direct text messaging, upskilling staff to identify and support vulnerable customers, and investing in scalable workforces to handle large claims volumes.
Improving catastrophe responses has been a priority for the industry since the unprecedented 2022 floods and will ensure communities have easy access to the support they need.
Quotes attributable to Andrew Hall, CEO, Insurance Council of Australia:
It is confronting to see the extent of the damage across the region and it is clear the recovery is going to take some time and that means support must be ongoing.
The Insurance Hub and recovery centres have seen a steady flow of people coming through getting advice on claims and next steps for the clean-up.
Insurers will continue to have a presence on the ground in impacted communities, and we urge anyone who needs help with their claim to come down to the Hub and have a chat with the dedicated support staff.
A list of FAQs can be found in the PDF of this release.
