Hailstorm 2020 damage: Residents to be in hotels for months after carnage
More than 2000 homes in Springfield Lakes are still without power this morning after a destructive super storm sent baseball-sized hail smashing into the suburb at the weekend. SEE THE SHOCKING PICTURES
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More than 2000 homes in Springfield Lakes are still without power on Monday morning after the suburb was hit by baseball-sized hail in a destructive supercell storm at the weekend.
It will be months before some Ipswich residents can rebuild and safely return to their homes.
In Springfield Lakes on Sunday afternoon, entire streets were without power while multiple Energex and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews conducted safety checks, convoys of tow-trucks transported hail-damaged vehicles, and residents packed their belongings to temporarily move into hotel accommodation.
Super cell fury: Three trapped in roof collapse, nine storm cells, 13cm giant hail, roof collapse
“This whole area around us here is like a bomb zone, there are cars completely written off it is just incredible,” Danaid St resident Stephen Boardman said.
“I’d say 70 per cent of our ceilings have completely collapsed into the house and there are wires hanging down.
“I’ve spoken to the assessor and he says best-case scenario (to move back in) three months, worst six.”
Insurance bodies have labelled it the worst hailstorm in six years.
Around the corner in Admiral Crescent, homeowner and dad Lee Morgan was coming to terms with the fact it would be months before his family would be back in their home they built in 2007.
“It’s a war zone … outside they don’t realise how bad it is, everybody sees the damaged solar panels and roof tiles but it’s not until you go inside that you see the real damage,” he said.
“We just had the insurance guy come to make the house safe, he said.
“I’ve got a 3x3m tarp’ and then he came and had a look at said ‘nah, it’s not safe’.”
“We’ve had a cry and a cuddle and all of that stuff, but we’re safe and we’re insured, there are people who aren’t insured and are worse off than us.”
The Insurance Council of Australia declared the hailstorms a catastrophe yesterday afternoon, with more than 5000 claims lodged by 2pm Sunday, with insured losses estimated at $60 million.
Claims data shows the hardest hit suburbs were Springfield, Rosewood, Greenbank and Boronia Heights.
About 60 per cent of claims are for damage to motor vehicles, and 40 per cent for damage to houses – mainly to roofs, skylights and solar panels, and interior damage to a significant proportion of homes.
RACQ spokesman Lucinda Ross said it was the worst hail damage seen since Brisbane was hit by a severe hailstorm in 2014, with reports of 14cm hailstones in parts.
“It’s been a terrifying experience for many people and we’re working hard to make sure we can help our members process their claims as soon as possible and fix any damage,” she said.
Another Admiral Crescent resident Brendon Bell said it appeared residents with tin roofs had fared better than those with tile roofs.
“The tin roofs are getting their power back on tonight (Sunday night), tile roofs won’t get it for weeks,” he said.
He said their tile roof would have to be repaired and signed off on by an electrician before Energex could restore their power.
“Any tradie that wants to make money right now, send them this way,” he said.