The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has officially declared the recent flooding across New South Wales an Insurance Catastrophe, prompting an escalated industry response to support affected communities, particularly in the Mid North Coast.
Since heavy rainfall began on May 17, insurers have received 4,900 claims, with the Mid-Coast LGA accounting for 1,233, Port Macquarie-Hastings for 429, and Kempsey for 37, as of May 27.
ICA CEO Andrew Hall stated that the decision to upgrade the classification from a “Significant Event” was based on on-ground feedback and the extent of the damage.
“The decision to upgrade this event reflects the breadth and severity of damage caused to impacted communities,” said Hall.
The catastrophe declaration enables insurers to prioritize claims, deploy disaster response teams, and better coordinate with local authorities to assist affected residents.
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