As Australians prepare to head off for summer holidays, Suncorp and State Emergency Service (SES) agencies across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria are calling on homeowners to take precautions against severe weather.
New research indicated a significant number of Australians are failing to prepare their homes for potential storm damage before leaving for vacation.
A Suncorp survey found that 80% of Australians are not taking sufficient steps to secure their homes before holidays, leaving properties at risk.
While over a third of respondents (35%) monitor weather forecasts for their holiday destinations, only a small percentage consider the potential for storms or other weather hazards affecting their home.
Additionally, 30% of survey participants admitted they ignore weather forecasts entirely, citing a “holiday mindset.”
Anna Cartwright, Suncorp’s executive general manager for home prevention and protection, emphasised the risks of neglecting home preparedness.
“Failing to properly plan and prepare your home leaves it vulnerable to the elements while you’re away, which is a huge risk, and one that can be reduced if you plan ahead,” she said.
Suncorp, in collaboration with SES agencies, released data on regions with the highest weather-related callouts during the past financial year, urging residents in these areas to remain vigilant.
The Gold Coast region, including Upper Coomera, Helensvale, and Oxenford, recorded the highest number of emergency responses. Cairns suburbs such as Holloways Beach and Machans Beach also featured prominently.
Queensland SES chief officer Mark Armstrong noted that severe weather can strike any location and encouraged residents to prepare for unexpected events.
“It only takes one storm or cyclone to have a massive impact on a region. And while it was the Gold Coast and Cairns last year, it could be your region next,” he said.
Central Coast areas, including Wyong and Gosford, accounted for significant emergency activity, alongside Sydney Metro locations such as Sutherland and Ku-ring-gai.
NSW SES deputy commissioner operations Debbie Platz urged homeowners to prioritise preparation to mitigate potential storm damage.
“Planning and protecting your home from potential storms is the best course of action and will give you peace of mind enabling you to enjoy your summer holidays,” she said.
In Victoria, Mirboo North in Gippsland led the list of storm-affected locations, followed by Melbourne suburbs like Mulgrave, Mount Waverley, and Emerald.
VICSES chief officer operations Tim Wiebusch emphasised that early action, such as developing an emergency plan, is critical during the high-risk summer season.
“In summer, we often continue to see and experience adverse weather conditions, and the best defence against these storms and severe weather is early preparation, such as having an emergency plan in place and knowing where to go for information,” he said.
In a separate initiative, Suncorp and Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA) have released a paper exploring nature-based solutions to reduce disaster impacts.
The report highlighted measures such as wetland restoration, coastal habitat protection, and prescribed burning to mitigate risks from floods, bushfires, and storms.
The paper outlined four key actions to advance nature-based disaster risk reduction:
Lisa Harrison, Suncorp’s chief executive for consumer insurance, emphasised the need to incorporate environmental approaches into disaster planning.
“To be successful, nature positive disaster risk reduction solutions require partnerships between government, business, not-for-profits, science, and the community,” she said.
Suncorp recently joined the Restoration Industry Association of Australasia (RIA) as its first insurer associate member.
The partnership aims to enhance collaboration between insurers and the restoration sector, particularly in disaster recovery efforts.
RIA chairperson Brodie West noted that the insurance industry faces growing expectations to improve claims handling and customer outcomes following natural disasters.
“Recent House of Representatives and Senate inquiries have highlighted expectations that insurers and their service providers must improve claims management and outcomes for customers, especially following natural disasters,” she said.
She highlighted the role of the RIA’s upcoming Code of Practice, which will establish consistent standards for restoration services.
“Suncorp’s membership demonstrates its support for the RIA’s inaugural Code of Practice, which will come into effect next year. The code will elevate the credibility of restoration professionals and drive continuous improvement to standards and practices,” West said.
Steven Hussey, Suncorp’s head of assessing & supply chain, said the insurer is committed to aligning with industry best practices.
“We are committed to delivering quality outcomes for our customers and recognise the importance of standardised expectations in restoration,” he said.