Insurers Expand Support Following NSW Flooding Disaster
More than 7,000 insurance claims have been filed after severe flooding hit New South Wales’s Mid North Coast and Hunter regions. The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) reports that claim volumes have steadily increased over the past week as access to affected areas improves. Insurers are now focusing on providing clean-up guidance and supporting policyholders to expedite recovery efforts.
Recovery Support Initiatives
The insurance industry has established two physical support hubs to assist policyholders directly. The Taree hub, located at the Taree Leagues Sports Centre, operates daily from 10am to 5pm until June 13. In Port Macquarie, a temporary hub is open at the corner of Gore and Gordon Streets until June 1, with varying hours throughout the week. ICA chief executive Andrew Hall emphasized the importance of face-to-face support during the claims process, stating, “When a community is impacted by a large-scale event, face-to-face support through a claims process is incredibly important.”
Coordinated Industry Response
The ICA has declared an insurance catastrophe for the affected areas, triggering an industry-wide response to accelerate claims processing and deploy additional resources. Disaster recovery teams have been dispatched to support affected customers, and an industry taskforce has been activated to identify emerging issues and coordinate response efforts. The ICA has also reactivated its disaster assistance hotline (1800 734 621) to provide general claims advice.
Key Advice for Affected Policyholders
Insurers are advising policyholders to contact them early, even if the full extent of damage is not yet known. The ICA recommends documenting damage through photographs, avoiding the use of electricity in flood-affected homes until professionally cleared, and working directly with specialist brokers for agricultural insurance claims. Policyholders are also encouraged to review their insurance coverage directly with their providers, as flood cover may vary based on individual policy terms.
Challenges in Flood Insurance Uptake
Recent ICA data reveals that many high-risk properties remain underinsured. Of the 1.36 million properties exposed to flood risk across Australia, approximately 225,000 homes and 73,000 businesses face severe or extreme flood risk, yet only about 23% of these homes have flood cover. The ICA notes that affordability remains a significant challenge, particularly in low-income communities where around 70% of the most exposed properties are located.
Long-term Mitigation Efforts
The insurance industry continues to advocate for increased public investment in flood risk mitigation measures. The ICA has proposed a $30 billion Flood Defence Fund, to be co-funded by federal and state governments, aimed at enhancing infrastructure, improving home resilience, and implementing relocation programs where necessary. As recovery efforts progress, the industry remains committed to supporting affected communities over the coming months.
