New research from NRMA Insurance has revealed heavy rainfall is taking a toll on homes across the country, with almost 40% of Australians having experienced a wild weather water leak in their home.
The insurer is launching Help Nation Preparedness Month, urging Australians not to save severe weather preparation for a rainy day and to act now ahead of heightened storm and hail risk this spring.
NRMA Insurance received more than 5,700 wild weather claims nationally last season, with water entering homes one of the most common causes of damage.
NRMA Insurance Executive General Manager Claims Luke Gallagher said: “Water is a powerful force and once it enters your home it can cause tremendous damage. Rain is most likely to enter and damage the walls and ceilings of buildings through cracks in the roof and overflowing gutters.
“Regularly clearing debris from gutters and proactively inspecting and maintaining the condition of your roof are key to minimising wet weather leaks.”
The NRMA Insurance research also found 59% of Australians have not checked the condition of their roof in the past year and 11% have never done so. Despite nearly half of Australians reporting rain has caused their gutters to overflow, 19% have never cleared debris from their gutters to help them to prepare and protect their property from wild weather.
Australians understand the importance of having their car serviced regularly, but we need to place the same priority on maintaining the condition of the roof over our heads.Luke Gallagher
NRMA Insurance Executive General Manager Claims
According to the NRMA Insurance research, throughout winter 67% of Australians reported not taking any steps to prepare their home for extreme weather.
With many parts of the country recently experiencing severe weather upon the change in season, NRMA Insurance Meteorologist Zac Segger is encouraging Australians to understand their local risk and get prepared.
“Severe thunderstorms and an increased risk of damaging hail activity are predicted for Australia's east coast this spring, in part due to unseasonably warm sea surface temperatures. Above average early spring rainfall is also expected in southeast South Australia, southwest Victoria and Tasmania,” Mr Segger said.
“While seasonal weather forecasts are helpful, we know that extreme weather events can strike suddenly, at any time and without warning, so it’s important to take steps to prepare year-round.”
The findings feature in the 14th edition of the NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker, part of Help Nation, an initiative to help Australians know their local risks and how to prepare for extreme weather. This October, during Help Nation Preparedness Month, NRMA Insurance will be helping Australians get prepared through community events, helpful resources and educational content.
Visit Help Nation to download the latest NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker and to find out more about Help Nation Preparedness Month.