Melbourne storms: Glen Iris, Malvern East, Caulfield North, Brighton
Severe storms have left a trail of damage across Melbourne in 2020 and the SES is warning there’s more to come as La Nina drenches Victoria. Here are the worst hit suburbs.
Inner South
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More than half of all storm damage claims in 2019/20 came from a cluster of suburbs in Melbourne’s south east.
Figures released by insurer AAMI revealed that 8128 of the 19,000 storm-related claims made in 2019/20 came from property owners in Glen Iris, Malvern East, Camberwell, Caulfield North and Brighton.
The next worst hit region was Melbourne’s north east with a total of 3156 claims.
Templestowe lead the way with the most claims from the north east followed by Warrandyte, Doncaster East, North Warrandyte and Mill Park.
According to the report Glen Iris was Melbourne’s hardest hit suburb with significant storm related claims following a severe thunderstorm and hail in January that also battered large parts of Victoria, Canberra, Sydney and southeast Queensland.
The storm produced large hail, damaging winds and flash flooding which left behind a path of destruction in Glen Iris, Malvern East, Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.
According to VIC SES there were reports of hail stones the size of golf balls, and in some instances, they were as big as tennis balls.
“We responded to over 1,150 calls for assistance in the days that followed that storm mainly to smashed skylights and building damage,” VIC SES Unit Controller, Malvern Unit, Phillip Munslow, said.
“We had assistance from 25 other SES volunteer units from across the State who travelled to assist us, as well as our other emergency service partners who worked with us to triage the jobs and make them safe as quickly as possible.”
AAMI’s Head of Home Claims Victoria Craig White urged Victorians to prepare their homes now as warmer months would bring more frequent extreme weather.
“Simple things such as clearing leaves from gutters, downpipes and checking the condition of the roof and replacing loose or cracked tiles can make a big difference in preventing flooding and water seeping into the house,” he said.
“Storms are unpredictable and can happen anywhere and without warning, so Victorians should start doing general maintenance and preparation works now before it’s too late.”
Mr Munslow said that when a storm hit people should prioritise their safety.
“We always say to people that the safest place to be in a storm is indoors,” he said
“If there are strong winds it’s important to tie down loose items such as trampolines, umbrellas and outdoor furniture and try to park the car undercover if you can.
“It’s also important if you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours, to check on them before and
after a large storm.”
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