What should I do after a storm?

It’s natural to feel anxious after a severe storm, especially if it has caused damage to your home or property. This 10-step checklist will help guide you through the aftermath – including making an insurance claim.

▢ Check weather updates

Check the Bureau of Meteorology website or local news and radio bulletins for reports on storm activity. To avoid injury, don't go outside until you are sure the storm has passed.

▢ Inspect electrical items

Once the storm has gone, the first thing you should do is check inside your home for damage. Heavy rain can cause damage to the wiring and electrical goods in your home, so it's important to be sure that they are dry and safe to use. If you’re unsure, consider disposing of the item or consult a licensed electrician to test the things you want to keep.

▢ Look for water damage

Clogged drains and stormwater runoff can cause damage to ceilings, carpets and flooring. Check your ceilings and walls for sagging, cracks, or nail pops, which can all indicate water damage. If your carpet or flooring has been damaged, take photos then remove and dispose of it responsibly.

▢ Inspect your home for structural damage

After a storm, it’s recommended that you check your house for damage but only if it is safe to do so. Check for missing tiles, lifted roof sheeting and damaged or cracked windows and doors. If you need help with fallen trees or major roof issues, contact your state’s emergency services on 132 500.

▢ Consider asbestos risk

If your home was built before 1990, it may have asbestos. If you suspect your home might contain asbestos and it needs repairs, don’t attempt to fix it yourself. Asbestos is dangerous and can cause serious illness, so it’s important to leave it to the professionals.

▢ Ensure your car is safe to drive

Hailstorms are known to cause damage to cars. Most of the time, the damage is cosmetic, but if your windshield is cracked or if the damage is significant and you’re worried about the safety of your car, avoid driving and contact your insurance provider to start a claim if necessary.

▢ Avoid flash floods

Flash floods are common after a storm and, as their name suggests, they can also occur without warning. Try to avoid driving around your neighbourhood to inspect damage, or entering waterways after a storm.

▢ Be aware of scammers

Unfortunately, natural disasters can often attract scammers who can take advantage of vulnerable people. They may claim to be your insurance provider or say that they can liaise with your provider on your behalf.

The scammers may try to pressure you into giving them cash, signing contracts or even beginning repair work on your home. If something doesn’t feel right, say something and report suspicious activity to authorities.

▢ Record the damage

After a storm, take extensive photos of the damaged areas of your home to support your insurance claims. Be strategic while documenting the damage and be as detailed as possible. This will help make the process smoother.

▢ Lodge a claim

Once you’ve documented the damage to your property, lodge your claim with your insurance provider as soon as it is safe to do so.

The step-by-step process of making a claim with QBE aims to help ease tension after a natural disaster, and put the control back into your hands.

Call us or make a claim online.

Learn about QBE Home Insurance

This QBE Home Insurance is issued and underwritten by QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545). Any advice provided is general only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be right for you. To decide if this product is right for you, please read the QBE Home Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for QM8697 QBE Home Insurance.

This content is brought to you by QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545) (QBE). 

QBE makes no warranty or guarantee about the validity, currency, accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the content. Readers relying on any content do so at their own risk. It is the responsibility of the reader to evaluate the quality and accuracy of the content. Reference in this content (if any) to any specific product, process, or service, and links from this content to third party websites, do not constitute or imply an endorsement or recommendation by QBE and shall not be used for advertising or service/product endorsement purposes.