To date, Tower has received a small number of claims in relation to Ex Cyclone Hale.
Tower Chief Claims Officer Steve Wilson says, while claims so far are low, with Ex Cyclone Hale now considered a one-in-20-year storm for the Coromandel and wild weather set to continue in other parts of New Zealand over the next 24 hours, the insurer is keeping a close eye on conditions across the country.
“It’s likely some claims may be delayed, as owners holidaying away from their houses won’t yet be back home to assess potential damage. In some cases, families who have evacuated won’t have returned home to assess damage yet either so, we are mindful that more claims are coming.”
Mr Wilson says the most important thing those affected by the Ex-Cyclone can do is to ensure their own safety and that of their families first, including pets.
“If your property is damaged and only if it is safe to do so, please take notes and photographs to assist with the claims process. If you rent your property, we recommend you contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as possible.”
On Monday night, Tower sent over 37,000 text messages to customers in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Waikato, including the Coromandel, to check-in and to provide insurance advice. Today, Tower will be calling customers in the most affected areas and will also be sending out further texts, to check on customer welfare in other affected areas.
In the first instance, Tower is encouraging customers to claim online by visiting tower.co.nz/claims/. For urgent enquiries please call the Tower team on 0800 379 372.
“By encouraging customers to claim online we aim to keep our phone lines as free as possible for those most impacted and requiring urgent assistance to make their properties safe,” says Mr Wilson.
“Please remember, we are here to help. Our job as an insurer is to be there for people when they need it most and we will continue to do that by supporting our customers and their families throughout Ex Cyclone Hale.”
Insurance advice following an event
- If you’ve had to evacuate, only return to your home once it is safe enough to do so – follow instructions from authorities
- Write down a list of everything that was damaged to ensure you don’t miss anything
- If you can access any proof of purchase for items that were damaged, group these together with the above list
- Record the damage using photos and video before you start any clean up. Don’t throw anything you need to claim on away
- Clean up as much as you can. It’s helpful if you have a covered space to start drying out your things – you’d be surprised by how much you can save if they are dried early
- Read your policy wording – you might find out you can make a claim for something you didn’t know. If you’re unsure, do give your insurance provider a call to discuss what your policy covers, and what the next steps are for claiming
- If your home isn’t safe to live in, check with your insurer if you are covered for temporary accommodation.
For areas of New Zealand that have been issued heavy rain or strong wind weather warnings, Tower’s blog features helpful advice such as, what to do before and after a flood and what water and flood damage does your insurance cover?
ENDS