Armidale and Glen Innes have topped the list for the most wild weather related insurance claims over the summer, mostly due to hail damage.
New research from NRMA Insurance has revealed that 16% of Australians experienced wild weather damage to their home or vehicle over the 2024-25 summer season. The Hunter was the hardest hit region with the New England coming in second, while Armidale and Glen Innes are ranked 1 and 2 on the hardest hit towns. 1200 of Armidale’s claims related to the January 23 hail storm.
However, New Englanders should not be slugged with higher premiums as a result of the recent storms.
“A customer’s premium will reflect a range of factors including the extreme weather risks such as storms, floods and bushfires at their individual property, the cost pressures from inflation, reinsurance expenses, and government taxes and levies,” a spokesperson for NRMA said.
“NRMA Insurance uses long-term risk modelling to assess extreme weather risks. A single weather event, such as the January hailstorm, is not expected to have a material impact on insurance premiums in the region.”
Among the 16% of Australians who experienced weather-related damage, NRMA Insurance found that 8% had damage to their home, 6% to their vehicle, and an unfortunate 2% suffered damage to both. Despite growing concern about extreme weather risks, 40% of people feel unprepared to respond to severe weather events.
NRMA Insurance’s Executive General Manager of Retail Claims, Luke Gallagher, said the growing severity of Australia’s weather increased the need for preparedness.
“During summer we saw hailstorms and wind squalls strike suddenly, with as little as 30 minutes warning, and cause significant damage because it caught people unprepared,” Mr Gallagher said.
“It’s the small, everyday preparedness actions that can help protect your home from significant damage when wild weather arrives suddenly.”
“Our research shows 31% of Aussies do not ensure their windows are closed before they go out, and only 35% of people who have outdoor furniture have ever tied it down,” Mr Gallagher said.
Mr Gallagher also encouraged Australians to develop emergency plans.
“Creating an emergency plan is a critical step in building household resilience and preparing for the threat of severe weather.”
“Fewer than 40% of households reported having a severe weather emergency plan in place during summer. We would encourage all Australians to prioritise creating an emergency plan.”
NRMA Insurance partners with the Australian Red Cross to provide free EmergencyRedi™ workshops, helping communities understand local risks and prepare for extreme weather emergencies.
NRMA Insurance processed more than 18,100 claims for wild weather damage over summer, including severe storms in New South Wales, flooding in Far North Queensland, and hailstorms in the ACT. The situation worsened at the beginning of autumn with the arrival of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which caused widespread damage across two states and contributed to approximately 95,000 claims across the insurance industry.
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