The recent fires in Sydney occurred after the warmest overnight and day temperatures recorded so early in Spring in more than 100 years. Some places recorded temperatures in excess of 31 degrees.
Two homes were destroyed in the fires and meteorologists are warning that Sydney could continue to see warmer than normal conditions for most of September and October, with 1.3 million households in the state classified as “high-risk” this bushfire season.
NIBA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Booth, said fires so early in the season highlights the need for consumers to seek expert advice about insurance cover as soon as possible.
“The early onset of bushfires is a stark reminder of how quickly natural catastrophes can strike, and why it is so important to have the right level of cover. Insurance can be a very complex product to understand, so we recommend consumers speak to an insurance broker to make sure that the things that are most important to them are adequately covered,” said Booth.
The official bushfire season began on 1 October in some states but won’t commence until 1 December in others.
Experts are advising that wherever you reside, if your property is in a high-risk area, it’s time to start preparations, including:
- If you don’t have one, write down your bushfire plan now! If you do have one, review it to make sure it is still current.
- Attend your local Fire Authority Bushfire preparation meeting. Every bushfire season is different so even if you’ve attended one before, it is important to attend again.
- Speak to your insurance broker and review your property’s sum insured. New building codes, regulations and guidelines leads to the risk of under estimating what a building in a bushfire prone area would cost to rebuild or repair.
For further information on preparing your property for bushfire season, please visit your local Fire Authority’s website:
Victoria: http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/
NSW: http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/
SA: http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/
WA: http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/
To speak with an insurance broker about a valuation to review your property’s sum insured, please call us on 1300 424 627.
