The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and insurance providers are set to extend their support efforts to Far North Queensland in late January in response to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
This initiative aims to offer additional assistance to affected customers through in-person consultations scheduled for Port Douglas on Jan. 23 and Cairns on Jan. 24. These sessions include a community townhall and one-on-one meetings with insurers.
The scheduled consultations will occur at:
Details for making bookings will be made available in the coming days.
Since the storm and flooding on Dece. 10, the ICA and insurers have actively engaged in the region, providing direct support to customers through recovery centres, alongside government agencies and other support entities.
The insurer-led consultations and town halls are standard components of the catastrophe declaration process, affording customers the opportunity to gain insights into the general claims process and engage directly with their insurers about their claims.
“We know the damage from severe weather events extends well beyond the physical loss of property and assets, with the human and emotional impact often hitting hardest,” said ICA CEO Andrew Hall. “It is for this very reason the ICA and insurers are committed to being present and on the ground to support policyholders as they navigate this difficult time, with consultations and town halls providing information and assistance directly to those impacted.
“Insurers continue to work alongside local, state, and federal government stakeholders and agencies to resolve any issues as soon they become known.”
The ICA encourages policyholders impacted by the extreme weather conditions to initiate or continue their claims process by reaching out to their insurers.
The current count of claims exceeds 6,300, including 72% property claims, 17% motor claims, and 9% commercial claims.
As the recovery progresses and access to previously cut-off areas is restored, the ICA emphasises to customers that retaining destroyed property, such as wet carpet and furnishings, is not obligatory and may pose health risks. Instead, individuals are advised to document damages with photos and videos, note identifying information, and retain material samples.
The ICA also recently alerted flood-impacted customers to potential “disaster chaser” scams.
