Flood Damage Resources

Why the source of the water matters

In everyday conversation, people may describe any water entering a home as a flood. Insurance documents use more specific terms.

The Insurance Council of Australia explains the standard flood definition, which concerns water escaping or being released from waterways and certain bodies of water. It also explains that flood and storm or rainwater cover can be treated differently in a policy.

This is why an assessor may ask where water came from, when it arrived and how it moved through the property. If you did not see its origin, say so. You can describe the entry point you observed without claiming to know the water’s full path.

A useful question is: “Which source of water does the report identify, and what information supports that finding?” For the meaning of your own cover, ask your insurer or broker to explain the relevant policy wording. This page cannot determine how an individual claim should be classified.

Put warnings and river heights in context

The Bureau of Meteorology’s flood-warning explanation distinguishes a Flood Watch, which signals the possibility of flooding, from a Flood Warning, issued when river flooding is expected or happening at a particular location. Always read the full current warning and follow local emergency-service instructions.

River information also needs a location and time. An observed height is a reading at a named gauge; a predicted height is a forecast for that gauge. The Bureau explains that the depth of water varies across the floodplain. A gauge reading is therefore not the depth of water in every nearby street or home.

“Minor”, “moderate” and “major” are classifications used at river stations. They should not be read as a rating of the damage to your own property. Keep the station name, issue time and source with any information you save, so its context remains clear.

Keep your property account clear

Your own observations and regional information can be useful together, provided it is clear which is which. A council notice, a neighbour’s account and something you personally saw should each be identified accurately.

Fictional communication example: “From upstairs, I saw water entering the downstairs hallway at about 4.10 pm. I took a photo from where I was. I could not see where the water had come from outside. The river report I saved was for the town bridge gauge at 3.30 pm.”

This wording records the observation and the separate river report without treating one as proof of the other. If you notice marks or damage later, record when you first saw them rather than guessing when they formed. Do not enter floodwater or a restricted area to collect information.