Storms lashed the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland in mid November 2008. Initially more than 4,000 homes were damaged and at least 220,000 homes were without power. Just 3 days later, as power was restored to the last of these homes, further storms occurred.
A state wide natural disaster was declared and extra defence personnel were on stand-by.
One day later and the third storm in a week hit. Around 80,000 homes and businesses were blacked out with significant power interruptions. Energex reported "90,000 lightning strikes were recorded by the GPATs system yesterday as storms crossed Queensland with some of these strikes along with gale force winds, extensive hail and localised flooding”.
Further storms then thrashed the state for the following two days.
Along with power, rail lines were interrupted, main roads cut, the water bladder on Bedford Weir ruptured and major insurers to the area saw their share price fall.
The Insurance Council of Australia reported by late November that claim numbers had risen to 30,000 at an insurable cost of approximately AUD$295m. Some Insurers predicted the losses would exceed that of Cyclone Larry.
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Cyclone Larry Image
courtesy of MODIS Rapid
Response Project at NASA/GSFC |
Cyclone Larry, which crossed the tropical north Queensland coast near Innisfail on 20 March 2006, caused an estimated damage bill of AUD$540million. It also made bananas a luxury item for a considerable period of time with 90% of crops wiped out.
The January 2008 floods in Emerald, Queensland, resulted in insured losses of AUD$104million and growing. This was followed shortly after in February by floods in Mackay Queensland, of around AUD$342 million and continuing.
Prior to Cyclone Larry, storms in Queensland included:
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30 June 2005 flash floods & storms in SE Qld., caused damage of AUD$115.9 million;
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12 Oct 2005 hail storms around the Gold Coast caused AUD$131 million in damage;
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24 January 2004 hail storms in Brisbane and surrounding areas AUD$63.5 million;
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13 December 2004, Brisbane & Gold Coast storms caused AUD$7.5million;
and so on each year.
Storms and floods are an annual or bi annual part of life in Queensland. Are the size of losses increasing and are these a reflection of property prices, CPI or other economic conditions and growth? Or have we just forgotten past records?
When you look to history some of Australia’s worst storms and floods have occurred in Queensland. Insured and uninsured costs are significant. The following are just a sample.
On 10 March 1899 at Bathurst Bay (near Cape York), Cyclone Mahina killed over 400 people, including 307 pearling fleet sailors (at anchor) swept onto the Great Barrier Reef. A tidal wave caused by storm surge swept inland for 5 km. It is the deadliest natural disaster in Australian history.
1918 is known for two of the worst cyclones in Australia’s history. On January 21, 1918 a storm surge from a cyclone inundated Mackay. It caused record flooding at Rockhampton and about 30 people died. Then on 10 March, a cyclone pushing typhoon strengths passed over Innisfail. Some 77 to 100 people are believed to have perished. It remains one of the most destructive cyclones to strike a populated centre in Australia.
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| 1893 Brisbane flood Queen St |
The 1974 Brisbane Flood, with insurance claims of AUD$328 million, total costs of around $980 million (including Brisbane Bridge repairs of $112 million), 16 deaths and 300 people injured, is the worst city flooding in history. Caused by Cyclone Wanda which crossed the Queensland coast on 24 January 1974 it triggered monsoonal conditions and 5 days of intense rain.
The hailstorm and tornado which passed over Brisbane on 18 January 1985 caused insured losses of AUD$299 million and total estimated costs of AUD$385 million in a 30 minute destructive path.
The Great Floods of April & May 1990 covered more than 1 million square kilometres of Queensland and New South Wales. Road and rail links were severed for long periods, communities and properties were isolated. Largely uninsured, estimated costs were $415 million (in 1990 values).
The most intense tornado recorded in Australia - with a Fujita rating of F4 - occurred at Bucca, west of Bundaberg (Queensland), on 29 November 1992 at 2.30pm.
According to Emergency Management Australia, severe thunderstorms cause more damage in Australia each year than any other natural hazard.
Author
Claim Solutions Pty Ltd.
Insurance Policy
Country: - Australia
Policy Description: - Commercial, Domestic & Motor Vehicle
Insurer: - Various
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