Two cyclones in two weeks causes surge in insurance claims

Auckland – 13 April 2017 – AA Insurance says that the two cyclones to hit New Zealand in the last two weeks – Cyclone Debbie and now Cyclone Cook – have caused a big surge in insurance claims.

“Cyclone Debbie kept our claims team busy and we’ve now received almost 400 claims related to storm and flooding damage,” says Simon Hobbs, Head of Claims, AA Insurance. “We have already received over 30 claims relating to Cyclone Cook, however we expect this to rise rapidly as the worst of the heavy rain and winds are still to arrive.

“Safety should be the first priority for people affected by the weather. We’re keen to hear from customers who are unable to stay in their homes and need assistance, or who require urgent repairs to their homes to keep them watertight and warm,” says Simon.

AA Insurance advises its customers to:

• Make sure you, family and pets are safe first. There is no rush to make a claim for your home or contents, so once you're safe and settled, get in touch with us if you need to make a claim

• If you need urgent repairs to make your home safe, or if you need temporary accommodation, call us on 0800 500 216

• Do not attempt to inspect or repair any damage until it is safe to do so

• If the floors are wet, lift your furniture off the floor to prevent staining

• Keep your damaged items if they are safe to do so, or take photos – this is useful to confirm what needs replacing

• If your vehicle has been damaged or suffered flooding it may be unsafe to drive