Suncorp Group has initiated damage assessments following extensive rainfall and flooding in New South Wales.
The group – which operates under several insurance brands including AAMI, GIO, and Apia – has reported approximately 2,700 insurance claims stemming from last week's severe weather conditions, which the Insurance Council of Australia declared a “Significant Event.” A significant portion of these claims, over 2,100, pertains to residential damage.
Lilly Broodbank, executive manager, disaster management at Suncorp, reported that North Wollongong, Corrimal, and Woonona are the communities with the most claims, primarily due to flooding, rain, and storm surges.
“Safety is always the number-one priority, and this week, when evacuation orders began to be lifted, residents have returned to their homes to assess the damage and begin the clean-up,” she said.
Suncorp has proactively engaged with its customers, providing necessary information to facilitate a swift claims process. The insurer's contact centres are operational 24/7, ensuring customer support, and field assessors are actively working in areas most impacted by the weather.
To further assist customers, Suncorp will deploy customer support teams to Wollongong's recovery hubs in both the north and south regions starting Thursday. Broodbank mentioned that Suncorp is equipped to provide temporary lodging, issue emergency funds, and coordinate immediate repairs for those who have filed claims.
Broodbank encourages policyholders who have not yet reached out to their insurer to do so immediately to kickstart their recovery process.
“If customers had not yet contacted their insurer, they should do so as soon as possible to start the recovery process,” she said. “It's always heartbreaking to see yet another natural disaster, but we want to assure our customers we will be there every step of the way to help them recover.”
For affected individuals, Suncorp offers guidance on claim submission for its various brands, including Suncorp Insurance, GIO, AAMI, Apia, and Shannons, directly online. The insurer advises policyholders to document and photograph damage for efficient processing and replacement. Affected policyholders are also recommended to begin clean-up operations safely and ventilate their homes while removing and photographing wet contents for claims documentation.
