The Illawarra has been named among the state’s worst-hit storm locations, for the third year in a row.
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The scale of destruction associated with storms during the 12 months to June 30 was revealed in the latest suburb-by-suburb data released by NRMA Insurance and the NSW State Emergency Service.
The Illawarra was the state’s sixth most storm-affected region in the 2017-18 financial year, making up four per cent of all storm-related home claims lodged with the insurer. Figtree topped the list of the region's worst-hit suburbs, followed by Ulladulla, Albion Park and Kiama. Dapto rounded out the top five.
However, the region’s overall position on the 2017-18 most storm-affected list was an improvement on the previous financial year. In 2016-17, the Illawarra was in second spot.
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Statewide, 41 per cent of the NRMA’s home insurance claims in 2017-18 financial year were the result of storm damage – despite NSW experiencing one of its driest years on record. October last year and January this year were particularly bad for storm damage across NSW, both accounting for 57 per cent of all claims.
Meanwhile, the data showed only a quarter of NSW residents think storms are the most costly natural disaster to hit the state every year, while just 37 per cent had taken steps to prepare their homes for storms. October 1 marked the start of the latest storm season.
WORST-HIT AREAS
- Figtree
- Ulladulla
- Albion Park
- Kiama
- Dapto
- Bulli
- Helensburgh
- Unanderra
- Berkeley