Queensland floods
The record wild weather in the wake of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald continues to take its toll on Australian families and businesses along a vast tract of the eastern seaboard.
Many who are affected are still yet to count the emotional and financial cost involved, and are only just gaining access to their properties to assess the damage. Others have commenced the clean-up but still have a long road ahead of them.
As well as the immediate distress of their situation, many flood affected people face another hurdle: navigating the related insurance claim. The reality is that making a claim can seem complex and demanding at a time when people are least equipped to handle an additional stress.
Understanding this, Aon Australia has reinstated its ‘Severe Weather Situation Room’, an online resource that provides weather and related updates and warnings, contact information for key emergency services and other support agencies and practical claims assistance – including toll-free claims numbers and a range of downloadable claims forms.
The Situation Room provides information for customers with policies from a range of major insurers.
It also provides information on how customers experiencing hardship paying premiums in the wake of the floods can access help, and some personal contacts to assist those who are trying to make large and complex claims.
“The Situation Room is a one-stop information shop that helps insurance customers fast-track the claims process and gives them other vital information they need when they’re trying to deal with a whole range of extremely pressing issues,” said Mark Ronan, Chief Claims Officer, Aon Risk Solutions.
“We first trialled this approach during the Queensland floods of 2011, and feedback was that it saved a lot of time and uncertainty, making it easier for people to understand their position with their insurers and get the claims process under way. While it’s regrettable that we’ve had cause to reinstate the Situation Room so soon, on the other hand we are very keen to be able to offer this kind of practical help and support as soon as we possibly can – and that means before the claims process even begins.”
The Aon Australia Severe Weather Events Situation room can be found at http://www.aon.com.au/australia/ind/severe-weather-events-situation-room.jsp
