The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has announced two major events for communities in the Northern Territory and Queensland affected by recent severe rainfall and flooding.
Northern Territory floods include Katherine and surrounding areas, while Queensland floods include the Bundaberg region and the Burnett River catchment.
Insurers have started receiving claims in the two affected areas and the number of claims is expected to increase in the coming days. The ICA said it was too early to estimate the total insured losses.
The immediate priority is to ensure the safety of communities in both areas dealing with severe and rapidly developing flooding events.
The ICA said it will continue to work with the government as communities recover and will provide updates on claims as more information becomes available.
Insurance Council of Australia chief executive Andrew Hall said: “Insurers’ first priority is community safety and we strongly encourage everyone affected by flood events to avoid any activities that may jeopardize their safety.
“Our advice to affected policyholders is to make a claim as soon as possible, even if you don’t yet know the full extent of your loss.
“Accommodating through an insurance company’s online portal is often the quickest way to start the process.
“Communities along the coast of the Northern Territory and Queensland have long been at risk from flooding, but the gap between what is built to protect them and what is needed remains too great.
“These events are yet another reminder that governments at all levels must invest in resilience before disaster strikes, not just in recovery after damage occurs.”
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