Australian communities suffer a significant impact from storms every year. Violent winds accompanied by rain, hail or snow can topple trees and power lines onto cars, homes, and other buildings.
Stay connected and alert
When extreme weather hits, your family’s safety comes first.
Follow key guidance from authorities
Listen to and follow advice from the SES and local authorities. Contact 000 or your local state emergency service in an emergency.
Stay vigilant
Look out for weather warnings from Bureau of Meteorology by visiting BoM online or download the app on your phone.
Listen to updates
If extreme weather is approaching, follow updates on ABC radio online or download the app on your phone. You can also tune into local radio stations for updates.
Preparing for a storm
-
Precautions you can take
-
Emergency action plan
-
Emergency kit checklist
Precautions you can take
- Make sure gutters and downpipes on your home and other structures are clear so that heavy rain can flow freely off your roof
- Make sure tiles, corrugated sheets or other coverings on your roof are secure and can withstand high winds
- Make sure tree branches do not overhang your house or where you park your car
- Secure any items around your house that could become dangerous if blown about in high winds
- Identify a room in your house where you can shelter if you can’t evacuate
- To assist with potential future claims, take photos of your assets
Emergency action plan
Keep yourself and your family safe by ensuring that everyone is familiar with your evacuation plan and knows where first aid and emergency kits are.
What to include in your home emergency plan
- What role each family member should take in an emergency
- Where you and your family will go if you have to evacuate
- A list of emergency contact numbers and key contacts like the SES, 000, local hospital, gas, and electricity
- How you will contact one another if separated
- What arrangements you’ll make for your pets to make sure they’re safe with food and water
- How and where:
- you turn off power, gas, and water supplies
- valuables and important documents are stored
- your household emergency kit is stored
- What you’ll do to reduce damage to your home or contents
- You may want to digitise and store your photos on a cloud service just in case
- Where you’ll shelter or where to go if you need to self-evacuate
Emergency kit checklist
- In a flood, there’s a chance you’ll be alone for up to three days – so make sure your emergency kit will sustain you and your household. Prepare for disruption to power and water supplies, unreliable communication methods, injury, and dangerous elements.ed to evacuate.
What to include in your home emergency kit
- A battery-operated radio with spare batteries
- A torch with spare batteries, candles, and waterproof matches
- Three days of non-perishable foods and a can opener
- 10 litres of bottled water per person
- A first aid kit and manual with any essential medicines
- A change of warm clothes for each person and closed-in shoes
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Toilet paper and essential toiletries, including sunscreen and insect repellent
- Special needs for infants, the aged and people with disabilities
- Money
- Important documents (birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licence, passports, insurance policies and photos)
- Sealable waterproof bags
- A mobile phone, charging cord, and a charged power bank
- Extra car and house keys
- A copy of your household plan
- Pet supplies
- A portable cooker (if using gas, remember to have spare canisters or bottles)
- Cooking and eating utensils
Tips for home emergency kits
- Store your kit in an easy-to-reach, dry place
- Every member of your house should know where the kit is stored
- Check the contents of your kit at least once a year to make sure items still work and consumables aren’t past their use-by date
- Batteries, water and non-perishables will perish over time
- Make sure your power bank is charged and you have downloaded relevant apps, including BoM & ABC radio, onto your phone
- A battery-powered portable radio and torch will help you stay updated on power restoration and evacuation alerts if the power is cut
- Gather sentimental, important, and valuable items and documents that you can take with you should you need to evacuate.
Responding to a storm
-
What to do when a storm warning is issued
-
What to do during a storm
-
What to do after a storm
What to do when a storm warning is issued
- Make sure outdoor furniture, bicycles, pot plants or other outside items that could become projectiles are secured or taken inside
- Put your car in the garage and avoid driving
- Shift furniture and fixtures away from windows and doors
- Unplug electrical items, especially computers
- Make sure you have drinking water in containers
- Secure doors, windows, and awnings
What to do during a storm
- Use a battery-powered radio or use your phone to access the radio through downloadable apps to monitor for updates from emergency officials
- Beware of any fallen trees, branches or powerlines
- Stay indoors and away from windows
- Carry your mobile phone with you
What to do after a storm
- Stay away from fallen powerlines and damaged gas pipes
- Don’t use damaged power outlets
- Don't walk or drive through flowing water or enter water of unknown depth
Need to make a claim?
Once it’s safe to do so, our expert team can assist you in making a claim over the phone or online.
Find out how the claims process works and what’s involved on your end.
Look after your mental health
The mental health impacts of extreme weather events can be significant. To help our affected customers and their families during these difficult times we’re offering three free, confidential counselling sessions to help you get back on your feet.
Bookings can be made 24/7 on 1800 955 599. The counselling sessions can be over the phone or face-to-face at over 400 locations across Australia. Simply confirm you are an Allianz customer, distribution partner or family member to book a session.
We're here to help
Give us a call, or send us a message
Follow us on
Allianz acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work across Australia. We pay our respect to First Nations Elders past and present.
Any advice here does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. Before making a decision about this insurance, consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Policy Wording and Supplementary PDS (if applicable). Where applicable, the PDS/Policy Wording, Supplementary PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) for this insurance are available on this website. We do not provide any form of advice if you call us to enquire about or purchase a product.
Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 is the insurer of any general insurance products offered, and Allianz Australia Life Insurance Limited ABN 27 076 033 782 AFS Licence No. 296559 is the insurer of any life insurance products offered. Each entity is responsible for any statements and representations made about its products, on this website.