Australia's storm of the decade causes over $160m in damage

Parramatta, Sydney Photo: Daedalist

The storm, which hit New South Wales this week, has been decribed as a "once in a decade" burst of wind and rain. It washed some homes away, isolating thousands of people and leaving homes without power. Three lives were reported as lost in Dungog, with two women reported missing after their car was washed away.

The conditions were caused by an intense low pressure system, often referred to as an East Coast Low, combined with a strengthening high pressure ridge over the Southern Tasman Sea, explains Austrlaia's Bureau of Meteorology.

The strongest wind gusts were 135km/h recorded at Nobbys Head (Newcastle), Norah Head (Central Coast) and Wattamolla (Illawarra) on Tuesday, although the BoM added that the system was weakening yesterday.

Floodwarnings remain in place for the Hunter River, Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers, Wyong River and Tuggerah Lake, Lake Macquarie, Paterson and Williams Rivers and Bulahdelah.

Insurance companies sent assessors into the storm-ravaged regions of New South Wales yesterday to accelerate the claims process and help homeowners begin repair costs.

Insurance Council of Australia CEO Rob Whelan said assessors were visiting policyholders where they could gain access, although many areas were still not easily accessible.

As of yesterday, insurance companies had received 24,250 claims and insurance losses were estimated at $161 million.

Whelan commented: "Most of the claims received are for home and contents, mainly for light damage caused by rain and wind, with a small number of motor vehicle and commercial claims. These are early figures for this catastrophe, and insurers are standing by for many more claims to be lodged over the next few days."

"Thousands of households remain without power and it's understandable they're not immediately calling their insurer," he added.

He encouraged insured householders and business operators to contact their insurer and lodge a claim as soon as possible to obtain assistance quickly, recommending that pictures taken of the damage to show their insurer would also help accelerate the process.

The Insurance Council has activated a disaster hotline - 1800 734 621 – to help affected residents who are not sure which insurer they are with, or who have general inquiries about the claims process.