The Insurance Response to this event is detailed in a separate report.
This article has been compiled from various news reports, the Victoria State Emergency Service and the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology websites.
Described by authorities as a 1 in 20 year windstorm the damage reported in each state was mainly to vehicles and properties, with a high incidence of fallen trees and roof damage. An Insurance Industry Catastrophe was not declared for this event in any state.
On Thursday 27 March Cyclone Poncho was a category four system about 1000km off Exmouth, Western Australia. It brought considerable rainfall to the south west of Western Australia around Monday 31 March.
Wednesday 2 April 2008
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Source: Image from Japan Meteorological Agency
satellite MTSAT-1R via Bureau of Meteorology.
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Damaging winds from the tail of this cyclone swept across Victoria on Wednesday 2 April causing up to 3.5 metre waves in Port Phillip Bay. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a hurricane warning for Bass Strait. The Bureau reported winds of more than 100kmh at Mount William in the Grampians just after 7am.
Later in the day the West Gate Bridge was closed. It was open again, albeit with restricted travel, by 7.30pm.
By 4pm emergency services had received approximately 1227 calls for assistance with damage in the Northcote, Nunawading and Eltham areas. Damage included fallen trees and damaged roofs. As a result of fallen trees power was cut to approximately 200,000 homes and businesses.
There were reports of dust storms across the west affecting visibility.
The Sandown race meeting was cancelled after 2 races after wind gusts of up to 130km/h blew down around 250 metres of running rail.
Train lines to and from Melbourne CBD were affected with major delays causing peak hour chaos.
Thursday 3 April 2008
By 8am on Thursday 3 April approximately 8,000 calls for assistance Victoria wide have been received by all agencies - Victoria SES, Country Fire Authority (CFA), Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) and Victoria Police.
Electricity distribution networks worked to restore power to over 380,000 customers. Around 11am on Thursday 3 April 40,000 customers were still without power. Major areas without power included Burwood, Box Hill, Surrey Hills, Templestowe, Warrandyte, Cranbourne, Pakenham, and eastern regional Victoria.
Around 40 sets of traffic signals in metropolitan Melbourne were still without power until late afternoon. Generators were ordered and some intersections were manned by police. Significantly Springvale Road, Burwood East, a major intersection, was without power until late Thursday.
The Victorian Premier Mr Brumby announced the provision of DHS emergency grant of up to $1067 per household to assist persons displaced from households.
Friday 4 April
On Friday evening 10,500 of the 420,000 homes whose power supply had been interrupted, remained cut off. It is reported that all power should be restored by Monday 7 April at 12pm.
South Australia
With around 610 calls for assistance, approximately 400 roofs were damaged and have been tarped by the SES in the southern part of the state.
New South Wales
Emergency services received approximately 100 calls for assistance with damage spread across southern districts.
Tasmania
Winds reached 176 kilometres per hour at around 4:00am on 3 April. Tasmanian Emergency Services reported 248 requests for assistance.
ABC News indicated AAMI received more than 250 calls, with claims averaging $3,500, and RACT Insurance was fielding an average of 90 calls an hour. In addition Tasmania's wine industry is hoping power cuts wild weather won’t affect the winemaking process.
The damage bill has been reported as reaching $1m already.
The Insurance Response is detailed in a separate article.
Author
Claim Solutions Pty Ltd.
Insurance Policy
Country: - Australia
Policy Description: - Mainly domestic, motor vehicle with some commercial business pack policies
Insurer: - Various
External Links
Victoria State Emergency Service
Bureau of Meteorology
