Key Takeaway: The Australian cyclone season runs from November 1 to April 30 each year. Before it starts, review your home and contents insurance to confirm cyclone damage is covered, your sum insured reflects current rebuild and replacement costs, and you understand your excess and any exclusions. Check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and consider updating your cover if your circumstances have changed.

Why Cyclone Season Matters for Your Insurance

The official Australian cyclone season begins on November 1 and extends through to April 30, with tropical cyclones most common in northern and coastal Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, cyclones can cause severe damage through high winds, storm surge, flooding, and flying debris. Reviewing your insurance before the season starts gives you time to adjust your cover, clarify exclusions, and avoid the stress of discovering gaps after a cyclone forms.

What to Check in Your Home Insurance

Cyclone cover is included in most comprehensive home insurance policies in cyclone-prone regions, but not all. Your policy typically covers damage to the building structure caused by wind, rain, and debris during a declared cyclone event. Check your PDS to confirm cyclone is listed as an insured event and review whether it applies to the full building or only certain parts.

Verify your sum insured. This is the maximum amount the insurer will pay to rebuild your home after total loss. If you have underinsured (set the sum insured too low), you will face a shortfall if your home is destroyed. Property values and rebuild costs can rise, so review your sum insured annually. Some insurers offer automatic indexation, but you should still confirm the figure is realistic for your property.

Understand the excess. Cyclone excess can be higher than the standard excess for other claims. Insurers in high-risk areas often apply a separate cyclone excess, which may be a percentage of the sum insured (for example, 1% or 2%) rather than a fixed dollar amount. A home insured for A$500,000 with a 2% cyclone excess means you pay the first A$10,000 of any cyclone claim. Check your PDS for the exact excess that applies.

What to Check in Your Contents Insurance

Contents insurance covers your belongings (furniture, appliances, clothing, electronics) damaged or destroyed by a cyclone, but only if cyclone is an insured event in your policy. Review your PDS to confirm this, and check whether the cover applies at your home address only or also to contents temporarily away from the property.

Check your sum insured for contents. Underinsuring is common because people underestimate the total replacement cost of everything they own. Walk through your home and estimate what it would cost to replace all contents at today’s prices. Update your sum insured if it has been several years since you set it, or if you have acquired high-value items (new appliances, furniture, or electronics).

Portable and high-value items may have sub-limits (maximum payout per item or category). Jewellery, cameras, and sports equipment often require additional cover or a specific listing in the policy. Confirm these details before the season starts.

Common Exclusions and Limits

Flood cover is separate from cyclone cover in many policies. A cyclone can cause flooding (either from storm surge or heavy rain), but your home or contents policy may exclude flood damage unless you have specifically added flood cover. According to ASIC MoneySmart, flood is defined differently across insurers, so read your PDS definition and consider adding flood cover if it is not already included.

Read also: Cyclone Season 2027: Your Essential Insurance Coverage Review Guide

Damage from lack of maintenance or wear and tear is not covered. If your roof was already deteriorating before the cyclone, the insurer may reduce or refuse the claim. Keep your property in good repair and document the condition with photos before the season.

Practical Next Steps

Read your current PDS and the Target Market Determination (TMD) for both home and contents policies. These documents set out what is covered, what is excluded, and the excess that applies. If you cannot find them, contact your insurer or access them through your online account.

Contact your insurer or a licensed insurance adviser if you are uncertain whether your cover is adequate, if you need to increase your sum insured, or if you want to add flood cover. Making changes before a cyclone forms is straightforward; trying to increase cover after a cyclone warning is issued is usually not permitted.

Take photos of your home and contents before the season. A visual record helps prove the condition and value of your property if you need to make a claim later. Store the photos securely (cloud storage or off-site) so they are not lost if your home is damaged.

Review annually. Cyclone season returns every year, and your circumstances, property value, and possessions change. Set a reminder each September or early October to review your cover before November 1.

General Advice Warning: This article provides general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before acting on this information, consider whether it is appropriate for you and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for your insurance policy. Consider obtaining personal advice from a licensed insurance adviser regarding your specific circumstances. Cover, exclusions, excesses, and availability vary by insurer and by location. Always verify current terms in your PDS and with a licensed adviser before making decisions about your insurance.