Flooding impacts continue for motorists and home-owners

Dunedin motorists trying to access Port Chalmers can expect more delays, while the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) says it is still too early to know the potential costs from last week’s flooding and heavy rain event.

NZ Transport Agency journey manager Nicole Felts says investigations have found  “huge” boulders that needed to be broken up at the parry Street rockfall. 

Up to 30-minute delays can be expected between 7am and 6pm for the next four days on State Highway 88 at the Parry Street rockfall.

Minor delays are expected at the Burke’s slip on SH88, with geotechnical investigations continuing there and at other site on the highway.

“We appreciate these delays at more than one site could add up to 30 minutes to the trip between Port Chalmers and Forsyth Barr Stadium,” Miss Felts says.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Council of New Zealand urges people not to wait to lodge claims for damages.

“If your home has been damaged by the Otago weather event, those affected should contact their insurer as soon as they are able,” an ICNZ spokesperson says.

“They should not wait to begin recovery and undertake loss prevention actions if they have the means to do so safely.

 “While it can be good to make a start on putting things right, people should prioritise their and their family’s immediate welfare needs. Follow the advice of local authorities and stay out of badly damaged buildings and do not drive damaged vehicles.

 “Those who are out of their homes due to flooding or have evacuated should contact their insurer to discuss temporary accommodation support, which is generally available under most home policies and many contents policies, and lodge any claims. Insurers can arrange for emergency repairs needed to make homes safe as soon as areas are safely accessible.

 “We expect to see a number of claims from this event though It’s too early at this stage to estimate how many there will be or the potential cost.” 

In general:

Contact your insurer as soon as you can

• Lodge your claim online or by phone as soon as you can.
• But don’t wait to make a start on making your home safe and removing damaged property. Keep receipts and a record of work done.
• If your property was damaged from a previous event but now has additional damage, be sure to record the new damage and report that to your insurer when possible.

Keep records to support your claim

• Photograph all the damage and list all items you remove. If possible, get together receipts or otherwise record details of everything you remove. You will need this to support your claim.

Temporary accommodation

• If your home has been damaged and is uninhabitable, ask your insurer what benefits apply under your home or contents policy. Benefits also apply for renters with contents insurance.
• These benefits are particularly useful for people that may be out of their homes for weeks or months while their homes are repaired to a habitable standard.
• Once your immediate needs for accommodation have been met, talk to your insurer about the specific amount of money or time available for this under your policy.

What you can do to start cleaning up

• Dispose of damaged property, especially carpets, soft furniture, such as sofas and beds, plus other ruined or contaminated items that can’t otherwise be properly cleaned.Main image

Main image: (NZTA/ The Parry Street rockfall)