Insurers across Australia are ready to support customers impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
Suncorp Group (Suncorp) has activated dedicated teams to assist its customers in Far North Queensland after Cyclone Jasper made landfall.
The insurer’s mobile customer support teams are on standby for welfare calls and assessments in affected communities once conditions allow. Emergency repairs, temporary accommodations, and cash payments for urgent purchases are among the services available to impacted customers.
Suncorp Group CEO Steve Johnston advised customers to heed emergency services’ directives.
“The safety of everyone in Jasper’s path is the number one priority, so please, continue to listen to the authorities,” he said. “We are closely monitoring the situation, and I want to thank emergency crews, including our partner Queensland SES. I also thank the community for all the preparation, including sandbagging, that has been done to lessen Jasper’s impacts.
“Once the cyclone passes and as soon as it is safe to do so, we want to reassure all our customers we are ready to handle their claims.”
Suncorp encourages customers to promptly lodge claims online across its insurance brands, including Suncorp Insurance, AAMI, Apia, and Shannons.
“You don’t need to be at home or have a copy of your policy to lodge your claim – we will have your details. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start the recovery process,” Johnston said.
QBE, which has mobilised teams to handle calls and claims promptly, advised affected customers to prioritise their safety.
“If you need to make a claim due to cyclone damage, please contact us as soon as you’re safe and able to do so. While our assessors and tradespeople can’t enter affected areas until emergency services declare it safe, notifying us of your claim as soon as possible helps us speed up the claims process to get you back on your feet sooner,” it said.
IAG – along with its brands NRMA Insurance, CGU, and WFI – stands ready to support customers in the cyclone’s path. Its major event response team, operating 24/7, works with the natural perils team to ensure a swift response to severe weather events.
NRMA Insurance executive general manager for claims Luke Gallagher said extra claims consultants are on standby to assist in the claims process and IAG partner repairers and assessors have mobilised their teams to impacted areas.
“We also have the materials and supplies to secure our customers’ properties to prevent further weather impacts. We have 5,000 Make Safe Tarps to secure homes with damaged roofs – which are ready to be shipped into the impacted areas from Brisbane. Make Safe Tarping is specialised material that effectively wraps the roof, preventing further wind or rain damage,” he added.
“Tropical cyclones, and subsequent flash flooding due to the heavy rain, puts lives at risk and has the potential to cause significant damage and destruction to properties and communities. We are urging people in northern Queensland to stay safe and to please contact us immediately if they are impacted so we can organise emergency support such as temporary accommodation and financial assistance and conduct emergency Make Safe repairs to properties.”
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has been monitoring the situation alongside the BoM and working with state government, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, and the National Emergency Management Agency.
