Why You Need to Be Flood Ready

Floods are Australia’s most costly natural disaster, resulting in around $4.3 billion losses. 

With climate change driving more intense rainfall, saturated catchments and unpredictable weather patterns, floods are hitting harder and more often.

In fact, short-duration heavy rainfall, which is usually associated with flash floods, increased by about 10%. 

The recent flooding in the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions led to over 6,000 claims as of May 28, 80% of which are related to home damage. 

That’s a massive hit to households, businesses and communities.

For the everyday Aussie, a flood can mean losing your home, car or business stock. 

For businesses, it’s downtime, lost revenue and costly repairs. 

If you’re thinking about insurance, being unprepared can lead to rejected claims or skyrocketing premiums.

That’s why it’s important to prepare for every stage of a flood, including the risks that come with it.

Pre-Flood: Getting Ready Before the Waters Rise

Preparation is a key component of being flood ready. 

Taking action now can save you stress, money and heartache later. 

Here’s how you can get ready:

1. Check Your Flood Risk: Use the Australian Flood Risk Information Portal (AFRIP) for flood maps up to 2018 or contact your local council for up-to-date flood zone info specific to your suburb.

If you’re running a business, check if your shop, office or warehouse is in a flood-risk zone. Then, speak to your landlord or council about past flooding in the area.

2. Create an Emergency Plan: Over 12.3 million Australians have no written, rehearsed emergency plan.
   
   Sit down with your family to plan evacuation routes, meeting points and how to contact each other. 

Also, don’t forget your pets!

For business owners, it would be better if you store critical business records in the cloud or off-site. 

A flood can destroy computers and paper files in minutes.

3. Build an Emergency Kit: Pack a kit with essentials including non-perishable food, water, clothes, medications and important documents.
   
   Keep it somewhere easy to grab.
   
   
4. Protect Your Property: Elevate valuables, appliances and furniture to higher floors or shelves if you’re in a flood-prone area.
   
   Consider sandbags or flood barriers for extra protection.
   
   
5. Review Your Insurance: According to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), flood claims in 2025 reached approximately 126,000 with insured losses nearing $1.5 billion.
   
   Given this, it’s crucial to note that flood cover isn’t always included in Home and Contents Insurance or Commercial Insurance policies.
   
   For this reason, it’s best if you don’t risk being uninsured or underinsured.

Pro Tip: Well-prepared communities can reduce flood damage by up to 80%.

During the Flood: Staying Safe When Waters Hit

When flood warnings are issued, your focus should be on safety and minimising damage. 

Here’s what you can do:

1. Stay Informed: Monitor the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) for real-time flood warnings.
   
   Apps, like the New South Wales State Emergency Service, provide alerts tailored to your area.
   
   
2. Follow Evacuation Orders: If authorities say to leave, grab your emergency kit and go.
   
   Don’t wait. Floodwaters can rise fast.
   
   Delayed evacuations can lead to dangerous rescues.
   
   
3. Avoid Floodwaters: Fast-moving water can knock you off your feet. 

In fact, there are around twelve people each year who have drowned due to floods.

In addition, 15 centimetres of floodwaters can already float a car.

It’s best to stay away from flooded roads and waterways.

4. Turn Off Utilities: If it’s safe, switch off electricity and gas to reduce risks of fire or electrocution.
   
   Never do this if you’re standing in water.
   
   
5. Move to Higher Ground: If you can’t evacuate, head to the highest point in your home or business and wait for help.
   
   Keep a radio or phone handy for updates.

Remember: Quick action during a flood can protect lives and property.

For businesses, having a continuity plan, such as remote work options or backup suppliers, can keep things running even if your premises are flooded.

Post-Flood: Recovering and Rebuilding

Once the waters recede, the recovery process begins. 

This stage is about safety, assessing damage and working with an insurance broker to get back on track. 

Here’s how you can handle it:

1. Ensure Safety First: Don’t return home until authorities say it’s safe.
   
   Watch for hazards, including damaged power lines, contaminated water or unstable structures.
   
   
2. Document Damage: Take photos or videos of damage to your home, car or business stock.
   
   Keep samples of damaged items for insurance claims.
   
   
3. Contact Your Insurer: Notify your insurer as soon as possible.
   
   Get in touch with insurance brokers as well. They can help you file claims and navigate the process to ensure you get the support you need. 

Quick reporting can speed up payouts.

4. Prevent Further Damage: If safe, start drying out your property with fans or dehumidifiers to prevent mould.
   
   Keep receipts for any cleanup costs, as these may be claimable.
   
   
5. Learn and Improve: Assess what you’ve done to prepare and how you can improve it.

Join local recovery efforts or workshops to share lessons and strengthen future preparedness.

Quick Tip: Taking steps now, like elevating appliances or reinforcing your property, can help keep your insurance costs manageable.

The Role of Insurance in Flood Preparedness

Insurance is a key part of flood readiness, but it’s not a set-and-forget deal.

At Tank Insurance, our team is here to help you find the right coverage that fits your flood risks and needs. 

Here’s what you need to know:

• Understand Your Policy: Home and Contents Insurance or Commercial Property Insurance might cover floods, but not always.
  
  That’s why it’s essential that you review your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or have a chat with an insurance broker to confirm the inclusions and exclusions of your policy.
  
  
• Act Fast After a Flood: If your property is damaged, take photos, keep samples of damaged items and contact your insurer immediately.
  
  Quick action can speed up claims and reduce further damage.
  
  
• Watch for Underinsurance: You might have skipped coverage in an attempt to reduce your premiums.

This could have made you vulnerable.

Make sure your cover matches the value of your belongings and the flood risks you are exposed to.

• Rising Premiums: The Climate Council warns that by 2030, one in 25 Australian homes could be uninsurable due to flood risk, pushing up premiums. 

Getting cover now and taking steps to reduce your risk can potentially lessen your expenses.

As an insurance broker, we, at Tank, can look for policies that balance cost and coverage, tailored to your home or business, so you’re not left footing the bill when floods happen. 

Community Efforts to Build Flood Resilience

Flood preparedness isn’t just about individual action; communities play a huge role, too. 

The 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry highlighted the need for better coordination between governments, emergency services and locals. 

Here’s what’s happening and how you can get involved:

• Local Initiatives: Programs, such as the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative and the Goulburn Broken Community Flood Intelligence Portal, are helping communities understand and prepare for floods. 

Look for similar projects in your area.

• Government Funding: The Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) is investing $200 million annually in projects, including the flood barriers and early warning systems.
  
  Although applications for DRF’s Round Three had closed last April, you can still check with your council for local projects or wait for the next round to open.
  
  
• Community Engagement: 76% of Aussies felt confident in their community’s disaster preparedness. 

Keep that momentum going by joining local flood preparedness workshops or volunteering with groups (e.g., SES). 

Communities that work together recover faster. 

For instance, Port Macquarie locals banded together to clean up and support each other, showing the power of community spirit.

Looking Ahead

Climate change is making floods more frequent and severe. 

The short-duration, sub-hourly heavy rainfall in Sydney has increased by about 20% per decade.

This can cause dangerous flash floods that threaten lives and infrastructure, so staying proactive is critical. 

On the bright side, global examples, such as the Netherlands’ Room for the River program, show how smart planning can reduce flood impacts. 

By giving rivers space to expand and designing flood-friendly urban areas, they’ve cut risks while creating usable community spaces. 

Australia is adopting similar ideas, especially in flood-prone spots. 

Stay Prepared with Tank Insurance

Floods can be really tough, but being prepared at every stage can make a huge difference. 

Whether you’re a homeowner, renter or business owner, simple steps can save you from stress and financial losses later. 

As your Sydney insurance broker, we’re here to find you the right cover, get you the best deal possible, answer your questions and keep things straightforward.

Give us a call and let’s work together to keep your home, business and community ready for whatever the weather throws your way.