North Island flood insurance claims total over 21,000

Insurance claims brought about by recent flooding across the North Island continue to pile in with three insurers stating they have received over 21,000.

AMI, State and NZI have each received their fair share of the aforementioned claims with 57 per cent of those being for homes, 21 per cent for contents, 6 per cent commercial and business, and 16 per cent for vehicles.

That means around 3360 of the total insurance claims so far have been for cars, trucks, and other motorised vehicles damaged by the flooding.

With Cyclone Gabrielle now battering down on the same flood damaged land just two weeks later, the insurers are preparing to support customers in need.

“We are working our way through the flooding claims as quickly as possible, while also processing claims from those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle,” says AMI, State, and NZI CEO, Amanda Whiting.

“As always, our number one focus is supporting our customers and communities through this really tough time.”

She went on to add that the companies have paid out over $23 million in claims so far.

Those who have issued insurance claims that haven’t been resolved can expect to receive support as soon as possible according to the insurers.

We expect to hear more in the coming days regarding the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle.

What to do if your property is damaged during a storm:

• Ensure you and your whānau are safe first. Follow all advice from Civil Defence.
• If you need to make a claim, as soon as you’re able to let us know about any damage to your property, the sooner we can help – especially if your home becomes uninhabitable or we need to arrange temporary accommodation for you, your family, and your pets.
• Be careful not to return to your home or business until it’s safe to do so and avoid anything that could potentially cause more damage.
• You can do temporary ‘make safe’ repairs to make your home safe and weathertight, such as boarding up broken windows, just try to take photos before you do so. Where possible, please contact us before you engage a tradesperson or make any non-urgent repairs.
• It’s okay to start to clean up if you’ve been affected by flooding, especially if it can prevent further damage, but remember it’s best to treat all flood water as blackwater (i.e., contaminated with sewerage), so make sure you stay safe by wearing heavy duty gloves, boots, and a face mask.
• If water has entered your home or business, turn off the power at the mains and ensure an electrician has checked the power supply before turning it back on.
• If your home or business is without power, you should turn your appliances off at the wall in case of a potentially damaging power surge.

What to do if your vehicle is damaged during a storm:

• If your windscreen has been damaged or your car has been flooded, please don’t attempt to drive it.
• There is no hurry to make a claim, but as soon as you’re able to let us know about any damage to your vehicle, the sooner we can help – especially if you have cover for a temporary vehicle that we can arrange for you.
• If your vehicle needs to be towed, remember to remove any personal items if you can, and make sure it’s securely locked with no keys left inside – the tow team will get in touch to pick your keys up instead.