NRMA claim stats reveal State’s most storm affected regions
WITH the storm season already upon the State and a dreary weekend ahead, the NRMA has revealed statistics that show the most storm affected regions — including the NSW Central Coast — and warning people to get prepared.
THE Central Coast has been revealed as the third most storm affected region in NSW during the last financial year.
NRMA Insurance released the statistics which showed that nearly eight per cent of all storm claims made in NSW — almost one in ten — came from the region.
Berkeley Vale was named in the top 10 most storm affected towns or suburbs in NSW, coming in at number 8.
The top 5 most storm affected suburbs on the Central Coast region were Berkeley Vale, Tuggerah, Glenning Valley Toukely, and Tumbi Umbi.
If that seems bad, then spare a thought for the Hunter region and midnorth coast (Coffs Harbour, Taree, Kempsey) which between them accounted for a massive 46 per cent of claims to the NRMA in NSW.
Among storms reported in the period was one in April which cut power to 4000 homes when a brief but spectacularly violent storm hit.
More than 40mm of rain was recorded at the Gosford weather station where 27.6mm, fell in just one hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. The northern part of the Coast was spared the worst of the deluge with just 14.8mm of rain recorded at Norah Head.
But what it lacked in rainfall the northern half of the Coast more than made up for in a spectacular, and at times scary, lightning display with 537 strikes recorded across the Somersby plateau, east to Bateau Bay and north to Charmhaven.
The NRMA Insurance claims data shows despite NSW experiencing one of its driest years on record this year, nearly half (41%) of all home claims made in NSW in the last financial year were the result of storm damage
IN OTHER NEWS
NRMA Insurance has partnered with the NSW SES for the 7th consecutive year to encourage people to prepare for storm season which runs from October to March.
Among other findings from the data is that only 37% of people in NSW have taken steps to prepare their homes for storms; 74% underestimate the damage severe storms cause each year.
Those least likely to prepare their homes for storms are people that live in apartments (39% compared to 54% of people in houses), Millennials (44% compared to 57% of those aged 45+) and people living in urban areas (47% compared to 59% of those from regional areas).
WORST HIT
Hunter — 25%
Mid-North Coast — 21%
Central Coast — 8%
Northern Tablelands — 5%
Illawarra — 5%
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