Insurers brace for record damage bill due to twin weather disasters brought by Cyclone Debbie

CYCLONE Debbie could cause the largest cyclone damage bill in Queensland history, with twin weather disasters unfolding at opposite ends of the state.

INSURERS are bracing for the largest cyclone damage bill in Queensland history, with twin weather disasters unfolding at opposite ends of the state.

The extent of damage claims from Cyclone Debbie is not expected to be known for weeks but it is tipped to climb well above the $1.4 billion bill left by the category five Cyclone Yasi, which struck less populated areas south of Cairns in 2011.

The Insurance Council of Australia declared Cyclone Debbie a catastrophe on Tuesday, shortly after it made landfall between Bowen and Airlie Beach.

But while the extent of damage to properties in the state’s north is still yet to be known, insurers will also be hit with the unexpected impact of flooding rains in the state’s southeast, as the remnants of the cyclone move south.

Authorities made the unprecedented decision to close all schools in the southeast, from Agnes Waters south to the NSW border, and west to Nanango on Thursday morning.

Rigby Wilshire wades through flood waters to get to his home in East Brisbane. Picture: Darren England.

The directive includes every public, independent and Catholic school in the region.

Businesses have also been advised to close and employees urged to go home as the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie dumps masses of rain all the way to the NSW border.

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart defended the divisive action, calling the situation “unprecedented”, while Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is rushing back from the cyclone-ravaged north to Brisbane for emergency meetings about the weather crisis.

Parts of the state’s south east have already experienced significant flooding and that is expected to worsen in the coming days.

The Daydream Island jetty was washed away in Cyclone Debbie. Source: ABC

“Everyone thinks because the cyclone has now been downgraded to a low pressure system, that everything’s OK. This is the time where we can see maximum damage and also loss to human life,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Insurance Council of Australia chief executive Rob Whelan said insurers were ready to assist policyholders who suffered financial losses caused by the category four cyclone.

It is still too early to gauge the extent of the damage, he said, but insurers are anticipating thousands of claims.

Approximately 2000 claims had already been made in the 24 hours after Cyclone Debbie made landfall, compared to about 1000 who made claims for significant damage to homes after Cyclone Yasi.

However, the claims from Debbie are also expected to extend to the destruction of property such as boats and cars, along with the significant damage to holiday resorts in the Whitsundays.

This car was submerged at the rear of the Robina Hospital on the Gold Coast today. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The agricultural damage bill is also expected to be high, with the Bowen fruit and vegetable growing area taking a hit that is expected to see produce prices skyrocket.

“Insurers are prioritising claims from this disaster, and using a triage system to get assistance to those policyholders in most urgent need of assistance first,” Mr Whelan said.

“Anyone needing to lodge a claim should let their insurer know as soon as they can.

“The insurer can then start processing the claim, and organise any emergency repairs, or temporary accommodation where applicable.”

Cyclone Debbie damage in Proserpine. Picture: Wesley Monts

According to the Insurance Council, insurers have paid more than $3.6 billion in cyclone-related claims in Queensland and more than $3.2 billion due to flood claims since 2006.

The category four Cyclone Larry left a $1.4 billion damage bill when it struck near Cairns in 2006, and wiped out, among other things, Australia’s banana crops, sending prices of the fruit soaring for months.

The category five Cyclone Marcia, which hit near Rockhampton in 2015, left $750 million in damage in her wake.