NSW declared a state of emergency as bushfires tear through the state

By Peter Vickers Insurance Brokers | business, small business, Insurance |

Catastrophic fire conditions have been announced through NSW as fires tear through the state, leaving over 150 homes destroyed, hundreds stranded and at least 3 dead.

Sydney is set to reach 37 degrees today and many of Peter Vickers Business Group clients have been affected and even evacuated already. We particularly remember the bushfires of 2016 where many of our clients’ homes were badly damaged in the Windsor area and so wish to send our support to our clients.

“Off the scale” fire danger

There are currently 54 fires burning in NSW, 26 of them uncontained, 13 of them at watch and act.

So what does this “catastrophic” rating mean?

"It's where people die," NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons explained last night. This is the first catastrophic declaration for Sydney since a new rating system came into effect 10 years ago.

Almost 600 schools have closed today and almost all NSW bushland areas including walking tracks and fire trails will be closed to the public until further notice.

Protecting your home and contents

The Insurance Council of Australia on Saturday declared the latest NSW bushfires a catastrophe, its 4^th bushfire disaster of the year. Already 150 claims have been made and the number is expected to rapidly rise as residents return to their homes.

The Rural Fire Service says homes are not designed to withstand fires under these conditions and that “if a fire starts and takes hold during catastrophic fire danger conditions, lives and homes will be at risk”.

Remember once a fire has started it is too late to check your cover or insurance policy – wait periods are a crucial part of your policy. For some it might be up to 3 days after purchasing your policy before you are covered.

Insurance providers and insurance brokers are fully prepared to support those who are correctly insured and can claim in the event of a bushfire loss. If you are unfortunate enough to have to make a claim, it is important to review your claims procedure as there will be some rules, such as taking lots of photographs and videos for the assessors and making no structural changes to the property. If you use an insurance broker, these experts will support you and ensure to make the claims process as smooth as possible.

Staying safe during the bushfire danger

Below are some useful links and information to help you keep safe during this difficult time. Remember that for your survival, leaving early is the only option.

Keep up to date with real time bushfire updates
Understand where all the fires near you are
View a full list of park closures and alerts
To find out if your local school is affected/ closed
The Sydney Morning Herald will provide open access to all its bushfire coverage - meaning that for the duration of this crisis, such stories will be free for all readers

For any of our clients affected by these bushfires please call our insurance team on (02) 9496 2310 if we can assist in any way.

Many Australian businesses are unprepared for the devastating impact and financial losses that can occur after a fire. Not only this, but business owners must be aware that the recovery process can take weeks, months or even years before operations return to pre-loss levels. This article explains how you can ensure you are adequately prepared for a fire and keep your business maintained to be fire safe.

NEED HELP IN THE EVENT OF A BUSHFIRE? CONTACT US NOW

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