At least 14 homes in Logan cannot be lived in after Wednesday’s supercell storm, and insurers are preparing for more claims as further severe weather moves across southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
The update follows IAG’s activation of its Major Event Command Centre on Thursday morning. Gusts of up to 125km/h, comparable to a category 1 cyclone, brought down trees and powerlines across Logan, the Logan City Council said. By Thursday afternoon, Energex had restored power to about 41,500 properties, but more than 40,000 remained disconnected. Damage to parts of the network was severe enough that crews would need to rebuild some sections.
IAG and Suncorp have not released claim numbers. Insurers typically see claims rise sharply once power returns and residents can inspect their properties. The Insurance Council of Australia gave the same warning during last November’s storms, which became Catastrophe 255 and went on to generate close to 99,000 claims. The council had not declared the latest storm an insurance event as of Thursday afternoon.
The early cost drivers are already visible. Uninhabitable homes trigger temporary accommodation benefits. Fallen trees bring large structural claims, and hail damage adds motor losses. IAG said partner builders had been carrying out emergency make-safe repairs on its worst-affected properties since Wednesday night.
Repair capacity is the bigger concern. Logan was among the hardest-hit areas in last year’s catastrophe, and builders and assessors in the region are still working through claims from that event and from storms earlier this spring. A second large event in the same area would stretch capacity further and could slow repairs.
IAG meteorologist Kathryn Turner said severe thunderstorms would continue across parts of Queensland and NSW over the coming days, shifting between regions over the weekend and redeveloping early next week. Suncorp said inland areas from Maryborough to north of Grafton, including Ipswich and Toowoomba, faced the greatest risk of giant hail and destructive winds.
IAG also warned residents about disaster chasers.
“Disaster chasers often door-knock homes after severe weather, offering quick repairs or falsely claiming to represent insurers,” said Scott Lindsay, IAG executive manager of property claims.
He said residents should contact their insurer before agreeing to any unsolicited repair work.
For brokers, the risk is practical. A client who signs with an unsolicited contractor before lodging a claim can end up in a dispute over the scope and cost of the work. Where damage overlaps with unrepaired damage from last year’s event, insurers will also need to separate the two losses. Brokers can help by documenting damage early and making sure clients in Logan and the Scenic Rim call their broker or insurer before signing anything.
