Western Australia's Biggest Insurance Payout

Western Australia's largest insurance payout was for an event most of you will remember.

Causing $1.6 billion in damages (adjusted for inflation), the infamous hailstorm of 2010 remains to this day the costliest natural disaster in Perth history.

With widespread damage to schools, hospitals, and other government infrastructure, our claims divisions had their work cut out for them.

On March 22^nd, 2010, what started as a sunny autumn day took us Perthites by surprise, as it quickly turned to a torrential hailstorm during rush-hour.

Damage ranged from hospital ceiling caving in, to schools across the metropolitan region shutting down for several days due to smashed glass and water damage. The golf ball sized hailstones were destructive.

Power outages

Our head of Commercial Insurance within our Government Insurance Division, Jasmine F, recalls the chaotic experience in the office during the storm.

“It was a quick transition from bad to worse... Skies turned dark, wind was howling and banging against the 10th floor window. I remember [others] warning me before they left for home ‘Don’t stay too late, it doesn’t look safe!!!’

Finally, when it was time to go, I walked over to the lift and went in… doors shut, and that was it. For the next hour or so I had to wait until someone came to open the door.”

After the storm

Being let out of the elevator did not spell the end of Jasmine’s team’s hailstorm work.  They had a big year of work ahead of them, helping recover WA’s important public assets.

A total of 1,096 claims were made by the diverse state government agencies for repair and recovery from hailstorm damage.

A tower at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Shenton Park with every window smashed by hailstones. Photo credit: credit Dione Davidson WA News

A total of $37 million (adjusted for inflation) was paid out of Insurance Commission’s Risk Cover fund, for this single event in 2010.

This went towards repairing roads and state-owned buildings including schools, hospitals and police stations. School buses irreparably damaged by hailstones were replaced and whole walls of windows at Charlie Gairdner’s were replaced. Insurance also compensated for spoiled food and the costs of shutdowns in those buildings.

Hard work recognised

Jasmine recalls the team's hard work did not go unappreciated.

“We won team of the year!!! We were recognised for quickly and effectively managing a high volume of claims for hail‑damaged vehicles and broken windows.”