Insured losses from recent hailstorm in Australia exceed $300 million

A late-November hailstorm affecting Brisbane and Southeast Queensland has resulted in 59,970 claims accounting for losses to date of $304 million (Australian dollars), the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) reported this week.

As of Dec. 2, ICA reports that total claims lodged by property and motor vehicle owners affected by the hailstorm included 15,020 for house and contents claims, and 42,950 for motor vehicle.

Insurers were not expecting shortages in trades, services and supplies or significant delays during the recovery-repair process, ICA CEO Rob Whelan says in the statement. “Brisbane is a large urbanized international city with plenty of trades, services and supplies available,” Whelan continues.

Among other tips, ICA notes that if a home is unsafe, the policyholder should notify local authorities and check with the insurance company to see if temporary housing expenses can be claimed; and advises motorists not to drive storm-damaged vehicles that may not be roadworthy. “Hail-damaged vehicles will be professionally assessed by insurers,” the statement notes.

On Nov. 28, ICA formally declared a catastrophe for the hailstorm-affected areas of Brisbane and Southeast Queensland. “Claims arising from the storm would be given priority treatment to reduce the stress on affected insurance customers,” Whelan said in a statement at the time.