Flood and weather damage: important information

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15 February 2023 Update

10 February 2023 Update

9 February 2023 Update

7 February 2023 Update

29 January 2023 Update

15 February 2023 Update

Severe weather events: important information

As Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle continues to wreak upheaval throughout the North and South Islands, we know that many of you are experiencing very difficult conditions including mass power outages, flooding, road closures and damage to property and contents. Our thoughts are with you and our communities, especially those that have been the hardest hit by the severe weather events. 
 
If you need to make a claim because of the cyclone, including for properties that have had additional damage since last fortnight’s climate event, please contact us. We have a very high volume of claims so our team will need to continue to triage claims to ensure we prioritise the most urgent needs.  We would really appreciate your understanding as we work through this.  

The extensive destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle has led to widespread disruption, in some cases making it unsafe to travel and/or access properties. This has affected the ability of many tradespeople and assessors to undertake work in some regions. McLarens are the company we use as our assessors to provide feet on the ground on behalf of MAS. Rest assured that the work will be undertaken as soon as it is safe to do so. Please also note that in addition to restrictions on labour, supply chains have been impacted and there will be a shortage of materials. 

We continue to ask for your patience as we do our best to progress your claims in these very challenging times. 

Some guidance to support you through the claims process: 

• As always, we ask you to put safety first. Stay out of badly damaged buildings and, if possible, flood water. If your property has been flooded, turn off the power. Don’t turn it back on until it has been checked by an electrician.
• Phone lines will be busy, so it’s best to make claims online if you can. 
• If you can’t stay in your home, please contact us. For those with home or contents insurance, including renters, temporary accommodation benefits may be available.
• Try to make buildings safe and weatherproof but don’t make any emergency repairs unless it is safe to do so. Don't start non-essential repairs without talking to the team at MAS.
• Dispose of fully flooded property, especially carpets, soft furniture, such as sofas and beds, plus other ruined or contaminated items that can’t otherwise be properly cleaned. Wear appropriate protective equipment if you’re doing this yourself. List everything that you remove and take photographs.
• When the weather allows, start the drying out process. Remove all the water you can, open windows and doors to get as much air in as possible. If you can get fans and dehumidifiers, use these safely.
• Do not remove hard floor coverings, wall linings or structural elements of a property or disturb any materials which might contain hazardous substances. Please talk to us if this is required, as only suitably qualified professionals should undertake this work.

We are committed to supporting and doing what we can to reduce the stress of these unprecedented severe weather events.  

Kia kaha. Our thoughts are with you.  

The MAS team 

10 February 2023 Update

As you will have seen in the media, a warning is in place to prepare for severe weather risks from a tropical cyclone forecast to hit the North Island from Sunday 12 February afternoon to Tuesday 14 February. Metservice advises that there is a high probability that cyclone Gabrielle will intensify into a severe category 3 cyclone and could cause widespread damage.   
  
With the 48-hour warning we’ve been given and the advantage of knowing the cyclone is coming, now is the time to do what you can to ensure your safety, and that of your whānau, along with protecting your property and belongings to minimise damage.   

Some advice and tips to consider:  

• Continue to put the safety of yourself and your whānau first and follow the advice of your local authorities, Civil Defence, and emergency service providers.  
• Stock up on enough supplies for at least three days (including medications) as you may need to stay at your home. 
• Make sure you have batteries and torches in the event of power outages. 
• Have a plan to evacuate in case that becomes necessary and know where your nearest evacuation centre is. 
• Clear drains, berms, and rubbish around your property to help prevent flooding. 
• Do not drive your vehicle if it has suffered water damage. 
• Stay out of flood water and always treat it as if it is contaminated. 
• Cyclones bring cyclonic winds that can potentially damage and/or cause trees to topple over on your property which can cause power outages and cause further damage. Do what you can to secure trees.
• Secure or put away outdoor items which could fly away and cause injury or property damage, such as BBQs, trampolines, garden furniture, and outdoor umbrellas. 
• If water has entered your property, don't turn on your electricity until it has been inspected by an electrician. 
• Photograph, remove and discard any water or mud-damaged goods that pose a health risk, such as saturated carpets and soft furnishings. If you choose to remove floor coverings to assist drying, please take photos and keep a sample to make it easier for replacement later. 
• Try to make buildings safe and weatherproof but don’t make any emergency repairs unless it is safe to do so. Don't start non-essential repairs without talking to the team at MAS. 

You can get the latest updates from the Auckland Emergency Management website and your local Civil Defence. Useful information and tips on how to best prepare ahead of a severe weather event can also be found on: Getready.govt.nz  

The total number of claims has now reached 1172, which is a very high volume to get through.

We ask for your patience and understanding if you have a claim with us which is not related to the 27 January rain and flooding, as we have had to prioritise the most urgent cases caused by this event. Rest assured we will progress your claim as soon as possible.

We are committed to supporting all our Members, including doing what we can to reduce the stress of this upcoming severe weather event.

9 February 2023 Update

The unprecedented flooding of almost two weeks ago has created enormous demand for skills and materials, which were already in short supply before the event. As our team has been doing, there are many contractors and tradespeople working to capacity to respond to the high volume of need.

Securing preferred suppliers

If you’ve had work done by tradespeople in the past that you were satisfied with, we are happy to receive a reinstatement quote from them to progress clean-ups and repairs. Please note that we will not manage or supervise the work of your tradesperson/builder of choice.

MAS is making very good progress to respond to the high volume of claims lodged.

Here are the latest figures:

• 1116 claims lodged (properties 958, business 68, motor vehicles 89). As expected, claims lodged increased after the long weekend as Members were able to fully review damage and/or check on their holiday homes.
• 997 claims are in the McLaren’s Portal – you can access the Portal 24/7 by clicking on the link you’ve been given to track the progress of your claim.
• 1,500+ phone calls taken.

We have made significant progress with motor vehicle claim settlements, along with a good number close to settlement. While motor claims are being handled quickly, house and contents claims take longer as assessors need to visit individual properties, prioritising those most affected.

7 February 2023 Update

It was a relief to see better weather conditions over the long weekend to allow for a speedier clean up and drying of flood affected properties. 

For those whose claim has now been lodged and the first part of the claims process completed (identifying mitigation work required such as drying, repairs and electrical checks), this article provides you with an update on the next phases of the process.

Once drying is complete and the building estimation team (and possibly other specialists) have visited your property, we will discuss with you and agree on the scope of work required to reinstate your property. Following this, we will talk through options and timeframes of reinstatement with you.

At MAS we are committed to ensuring you are fully informed when making decisions about your claim. We will discuss your settlement preferences and outline the provisions you can access as part of your policy.

Please note that you can also access the latest information on your claim 24/7 by clicking on the link which you will have been given to the McLaren’s portal.   
 
Advice and tips to assist your property claim

These tips will help make the process more efficient as we move through to the next phases of scoping and pricing, and reinstatement.

• Organise repairs of essential services such as water, electricity and gas – keep copies of any invoices or receipts. 
• Move damaged/affected contents away from the affected area(s) wherever possible. 
• Discard any water or mud-damaged goods, such as saturated carpets and soft furnishings, as these can pose a health risk. Once you’ve listed these items and taken photos of them, dispose of them safely following the directions of your local council. 
• Keep a sample of carpets you’ve had to discard to assist with the replacement process.  
• Provide as much ventilation as you can to your property by leaving doors and windows open where possible to help with the drying process. If you can safely access and run fans/dehumidifiers these will help to remove moisture from your home and speed up drying. 
• Take photos of any damage and other evidence as we may need to see it. 

 Your safety is paramount so when cleaning, wear a mask, gloves, and overalls to minimise exposure to potentially hazardous materials. 

We thank Members for their understanding and patience as we continue to triage our response to the high number of claims and inquiries.