In the wake of severe floods and storms that hit Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay, the Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) advised affected individuals to prioritize their safety first and foremost.
Local authorities have declared a state of emergency in Tairāwhiti, urging residents to evacuate if necessary.
ICNZ further emphasized the importance of promptly contacting insurance providers if properties are damaged by floods or landslides.
Although there have been no widespread reports of property damage as of Thursday evening, insurers are prepared to handle new claims. These claims will be in addition to the existing 19,786 claims for Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay, resulting from Cyclone Gabrielle, with a combined value of over $1 billion.
“Contact your insurer early if you suffer flood or storm damage, especially if you need to arrange temporary accommodation or emergency repairs; which should only be done if it is safe to do so,” said ICNZ Chief Executive Tim Grafton.
“Even if you already have a claim in from events earlier in the year, or have done repair work since then, it’s essential any new damage is properly recorded and reported to your insurer.”
In response to such events, insurance companies are mobilizing their call centers and allocating additional staff to assist customers.
“After all that people have been through in recent times, it's heartbreaking to hear of yet another Red heavy rain warning, state of emergency in Tairāwhiti and evacuations. Insurers will continue to do their best to stand by the people of Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay through this and the ongoing recovery from repeated climate events,” Grafton said.
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