Combining strong winds, heavy rain, and flying debris, cyclones can be devastating. Every year, Australia’s high-risk cyclone areas can expect an average of two to three cyclones to cross the coast during the November to April cyclone season.
Stay connected and alert
When extreme weather hits, your family’s safety comes first.
Follow key guidance from authorities
Listen to and follow advice from the SES and local authorities. Contact 000 or your local state emergency service in an emergency.
Stay vigilant
Look out for weather warnings from Bureau of Meteorology by visiting BoM online or download the app on your phone.
Listen to updates
If extreme weather is approaching, follow updates on ABC radio online or download the app on your phone. You can also tune into local radio stations for updates.
Preparing for a cyclone
Preparing your home can not only help reduce damage but help minimise the financial and emotional impact of cyclones.
At Allianz, we’ve been helping Australians prepare for, and get back on their feet after, adverse events for over 100 years. We offer cover for a range of insured events such as storms and cyclones.
Please note, a 72 hour exclusion period may apply. For full details about what is and isn’t covered, check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Policy Schedule or Certificate of Insurance
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Precautions you can take
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Emergency action plan
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Emergency kit checklist
Precautions you can take
- Make sure gutters and downpipes on your home and other structures are clear so that heavy rain can flow freely off your roof
- Make sure tiles, corrugated sheets or other coverings on your roof are secure and can withstand high winds
- Make sure tree branches do not overhang your house or where you park your car
- Secure any items around your house that could become dangerous if blown about in high winds
- Identify a room in your house where you can shelter if you can’t evacuate
- To assist with potential future claims, take photos of your assets
Emergency action plan
Keep yourself and your family safe by ensuring that everyone is familiar with your evacuation plan and knows where first aid and emergency kits are.
What to include in your home emergency plan
- What role each family member should take in an emergency
- Where you and your family will go if you have to evacuate
- A list of emergency contact numbers and key contacts like the SES, 000, local hospital, gas, and electricity
- How you will contact one another if separated
- What arrangements you’ll make for your pets to make sure they’re safe with food and water
- How and where:
- you turn off power, gas, and water supplies
- valuables and important documents are stored
- your household emergency kit is stored
- What you’ll do to reduce damage to your home or contents
- You may want to digitise and store your photos on a cloud service just in case
- Where you’ll shelter or where to go if you need to self-evacuate
Emergency kit checklist
- In a cyclone, there’s a chance you’ll be alone for up to three days – so make sure your emergency kit will sustain you and your household. Prepare for disruption to power and water supplies, unreliable communication methods, injury, and dangerous elements.
What to include in your home emergency kit
- A battery-operated radio with spare batteries
- A torch with spare batteries, candles, and waterproof matches
- Three days of non-perishable foods and a can opener
- 10 litres of bottled water per person
- A first aid kit and manual with any essential medicines
- A change of warm clothes for each person and closed-in shoes
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Toilet paper and essential toiletries, including sunscreen and insect repellent
- Special needs for infants, the aged and people with disabilities
- Money
- Important documents (birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licence, passports, insurance policies and photos)
- Sealable waterproof bags
- A mobile phone, charging cord, and a charged power bank
- Extra car and house keys
- A copy of your household plan
- Pet supplies
- A portable cooker (if using gas, remember to have spare canisters or bottles)
- Cooking and eating utensils
Tips for home emergency kits
- Store your kit in an easy-to-reach, dry place
- Every member of your house should know where the kit is stored
- Check the contents of your kit at least once a year to make sure items still work and consumables aren’t past their use-by date
- Batteries, water and non-perishables will perish over time
- Make sure your power bank is charged and you have downloaded relevant apps, including BoM & ABC radio, onto your phone
- A battery-powered portable radio and torch will help you stay updated on power restoration and evacuation alerts if the power is cut
- Gather sentimental, important, and valuable items and documents that you can take with you should you need to evacuate.
Responding to a cyclone
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What to do when a cyclone watch or warning is issued
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What to do when a cyclone strikes
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What to do after a cyclone
What to do when a cyclone watch or warning is issued
- Stay tuned to your local radio or television station for further information
- Check your property for any loose material and tie down (or fill with water) any large or relatively light items such as boats and rubbish bins
- Make sure household members know what the strongest part of the house is and what to do in the event of a cyclone warning or evacuation
- Check neighbours are aware of the situation and prepared
- Check your emergency kit and fill any water containers you may have
- Fill your vehicles’ fuel tanks and jerry cans with fuel
What to do when a cyclone strikes
- Activate your household emergency plan and finalise your emergency kit
- Collect children from school or childcare centres and go home
- Stay tuned to your local radio or television station for more information
- Park vehicles under solid shelter - handbrake on and in gear
- Shelter and secure pets and animals
- Secure outdoor furniture, garden items, caravans, and boats
- Loose items may be locked inside
- Close shutters and board up or block all windows
- Draw curtains and secure all external doors and windows
- Fill your bathtubs and buckets with water
What to do after a cyclone
- Listen to the local radio for official warnings and advice
- Don’t go outside until officially advised that it’s safe
- If you need to go outside, beware of fallen powerlines, damaged buildings and trees, and flooded water courses
- Don't walk or drive through flowing water or enter water of unknown depth
- Check for gas leaks and don’t use electrical appliances if wet
- If you had to evacuate, don’t go home until advised
- Use the route recommended and stay calm
- Don’t ignore warnings and don’t go sightseeing, stay where you are if it's safe
- Check on neighbours and help them if necessary and safe to do so
- Don’t make unnecessary telephone calls
- Always assume downed powerlines are live and lethal
Need to make a claim?
Once it’s safe to do so, our expert team can assist you in making a claim over the phone or online.
Find out how the claims process works and what’s involved on your end.
Look after your mental health
The mental health impacts of extreme weather events can be significant. To help our affected customers and their families during these difficult times we’re offering three free, confidential counselling sessions to help you get back on your feet.
Bookings can be made 24/7 on 1800 955 599. The counselling sessions can be over the phone or face-to-face at over 400 locations across Australia. Simply confirm you are an Allianz customer, distribution partner or family member to book a session.
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Allianz acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work across Australia. We pay our respect to First Nations Elders past and present.
Any advice here does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. Before making a decision about this insurance, consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Policy Wording and Supplementary PDS (if applicable). Where applicable, the PDS/Policy Wording, Supplementary PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) for this insurance are available on this website. We do not provide any form of advice if you call us to enquire about or purchase a product.
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