22 December 2020
Last year was an extremely challenging summer for all Australians with both bushfires and drought. Australian total rainfall for 2019–20 was 24% below average1, the sixth-driest on record.
But did you know that storms and floods over the same period caused over $3 billion in damage and gave rise to more than 250,000 insurance claims?2 This summer, the Bureau of Meteorology has officially declared a La Niña event that is likely to bring an increased risk of storms, cyclones and flooding to some parts of the country.
We want to help you understand the extreme weather predicted for this summer, what it means for you, and how to go about taking precautions to prepare for it.
La Niña is a natural phase of Australia’s weather cycle that warms the waters off Australia’s north coast, increasing cloud development and rainfall3. This increases the chance of hail, storms and associated flooding through the warmer months of the year across central, eastern and northern Australia.
A La Niña event is also likely to increase the number of cyclones we experience and bring forward the start of the cyclone season in the north of the country.
Living in Australia we know how quickly sunny skies can turn to storm clouds. No matter where you are ‒ from regional, rural and remote Australia to our metropolitan areas ‒ it’s important to be ready for extreme weather.
Some general tips to prepare for extreme weather, if it's safe to do so, include:
For more tips on preparing your home, or business, for a bushfire, sever storm, flood or cyclone, visit the Allianz Weather Support Hub.
We’re ready to help you face the challenges of this summer. Our partners at Allianz are working closely with the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) to ensure that they have staff in all states. Allianz’s assessors are ready, and their team is prepared to respond to your questions and claims quickly.
Allianz is also offering alternative accommodation for Home Insurance customers for up to 12 months if their home is made unliveable because of events such as a storm or a fire6,7 and our Comprehensive Car Insurance covers any accidental vehicle damage as a result of flood, storm or hail – please note that waiting periods may apply6.
Here are some tips to help you review your insurance and get weather-ready:
There are a few simple things you can do before you claim to make this process easier during what can be a very stressful time:
If your property or motor vehicles have been damaged by cyclones, flooding, storms or bushfires, we will be ready to help you. You can contact Allianz using any of the following methods:
If you would like to discuss your insurance needs, contact Heritage on 13 14 22 or learn more about our Insurance products online today. For more information visit the Allianz Weather Support hub.