How to prepare for cyclone season

Aussies aren’t strangers to wild weather – especially cyclones. On average, nine to ten tropical cyclones occur between the peak season of November to April.¹

While certain areas are more prone to cyclones than others, you may be at risk even if you've never had cyclones near your home. Luckily, there are some steps you can do to prepare – including checking whether your home and contents insurance is up to date.

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What to do before a cyclone

Create a cyclone plan

Learn the warning signs of a cyclone so that you can act quickly. Agree on a plan with all members of your household about whether you’ll stay at your property or evacuate if a cyclone hits.

If your home is not built to withstand a cyclone, you’ll need to relocate to a safer place outside the cyclone-prone area – perhaps a friend’s or relative’s home. Identify the safest and most direct route to this location and create a backup plan in case roads or bridges are closed.

If you’re not able to leave your home before the cyclone, find the strongest and safest room in your home that you can use as a shelter. This should be away from big windows and in a bathroom, walk-in wardrobe or in a hallway.²

Prepare your home

Consider doing the following maintenance tasks to help reduce the impact of a cyclone at your property:²

• Check your roof and repair any loose tiles, eaves, and screws.
• Clean gutters and downpipes.
• Trim trees and overhanging branches.
• Consider fitting windows with shutters or metal screens for added protection during high winds.
• Relocate electricity sockets and power points to well above floor level.
• Know the location of and how to turn off the mains supply for electricity, water and gas.

If a cyclone is imminent, make sure to:

• Move electrical items, furniture and valuables as high as you can if floodwaters threaten your home.
• Store all chemicals and poisons in locked cupboards well above ground level.

·       Secure loose items in your yard that could cause damage in high winds.

Create an emergency kit

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) recommends the following items to include in a wild weather emergency kit:

• first aid kit and essential medication
• extra clothes, toiletries, and sanitary supplies
• plenty of water, non-perishable food, and can opener
• important documents in a waterproof container
• portable phone charger and in-car phone charger, and
• battery-operated radio, torch, and spare batteries. ²

Review your home and contents insurance

Check if your home and contents sums insured is up-to-date and will meet your needs in the case of loss or damage. If you’re unsure how much cover you may need, we have an easy-to-use Building Calculator and Contents Calculator to help you estimate a cost to rebuild your home or replace your contents.

You might also want to check that your home and contents insurance policy provides cover for cyclone damage. If you’re a GIO customer, you can find the relevant policy documents here.

All GIO Home Insurance policies include cover for cyclone, storm and flood^#* as well as fire, bushfire^* and theft. We also help cover:

• temporary accommodation costs when you have home insurance and your home is damaged after an insured event and cannot be lived in
• storage of undamaged contents when we have accepted your contents insurance claim and your undamaged contents cannot be kept at your insured address, and
• other repair or rebuilding costs when your home needs to be repaired or rebuilt after insured damage, such as professional fees for architects or surveyors.

Limits, conditions and exclusions apply, so please read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for full details. To update your home and contents sum insured, use the GIO AppGIO Online Services.

Get a GIO Home & Contents Insurance quote

What to do during a cyclone

Stay tuned to the information and updates provided by your state emergency or disaster management organisation both before and during a cyclone. If you are leaving your property, remember to bring your emergency kit and inform your friends, family or neighbours of where you’re going if possible.

If you’re staying inside, make sure to stay away from windows and other breakable items. Disconnect all electrical appliances and listen to your battery radio for updates.

After a cyclone

Once safe to do so, check if your home and property has suffered any cyclone damage. If your home has been impacted and you’re a GIO policyholder, visit our cyclone support page.

You can also easily lodge a claim via the GIO App or GIO Online Services.

Make a claim

Read more:

• What does GIO Home and Contents Insurance cover?
• How to insure valuable items
• How much should you insure your house for?

^# Actions or movements of the sea and storm surge are not covered (unless the storm surge damage occurs at the same time as damage caused by storm). Other exclusions apply.

* We do not insure you for bushfire, storm or flood in the first 72 hours of your policy. Very limited exceptions apply. Refer to the PDS for details.

¹ Weather Zone

² DFES

Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as GIO. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. Go to gio.com.au for a copy. The Target Market Determination is also available. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.

The information is intended to be of general nature only. Subject to any rights you may have under any law we do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss or damage, including loss of business or profits or any other indirect loss, incurred as a result of reliance upon the information. Please make your own enquiries.