Communities across Western Australia’s North West Cape are beginning the difficult task of assessing the damage left behind by Tropical Cyclone Narelle, the most significant storm to impact the state since Cyclone Seroja in 2021.

Towns such as Exmouth, the gateway to the Ningaloo Marine Park, have suffered widespread damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. Early inspections by state emergency services show the scale of the impact, with the majority of assessed properties already recording some level of damage.

Claims will take time

Recovery efforts remain challenging. Flooding, restricted road access and airport closures have limited the ability of insurers, assessors and trades to move into affected areas.

While insurers have confirmed they are preparing response teams and repositioning assessors so they can move in as soon as it is safe, this event is a reminder that physical access often dictates how quickly a claim can progress, regardless of how well resourced insurers are.

Early focus: safety and making sites secure

Initial insurance claims in the region are largely related to:

• wind damage,
• roof impacts,
• fencing losses, and
• water ingress.

In catastrophe conditions like this, insurers and brokers prioritise make‑safe works—such as temporary roof repairs and clean‑up—to prevent further damage. Having access to local, operational trades can significantly reduce secondary losses and claim costs.

Complex environments increase claim duration

Claims in regional and remote areas can take longer to resolve due to:

• limited availability of skilled trades,
• transport and logistics constraints,
• shared infrastructure and access issues (particularly for commercial and strata‑style risks).

These factors don’t mean claims won’t be paid—but they do mean time becomes a critical cost driver, especially where businesses rely on damaged premises or equipment to operate.

Business continuity matters

Major industrial operators in WA have confirmed that essential energy production and exports are continuing, with ports reopening and offshore workforces being remobilised. This highlights the importance of business interruption planning, contingency arrangements and realistic reinstatement periods in insurance programs.

What this means for Action clients

Severe weather events like Cyclone Narelle reinforce the importance of:

• adequate sums insured,
• appropriate catastrophe and additional cost covers,
• loss‑of‑rent and business interruption insurance, and
• clear claims processes before an event occurs.

They also demonstrate the value of working with a broker who can coordinate insurers, local trades and claims managers under difficult conditions.

At Action Insurance Brokers, we continue to actively engage with insurers during catastrophe events to ensure claims are handled fairly, efficiently and with a strong focus on getting our clients back on their feet.

If you’re unsure how your policies respond to cyclone damage, access restrictions or prolonged recovery periods, we’re available to review your cover and answer any questions.

If you’d like, I can:

• shorten this for a front‑page newsletter version, or
• adapt it into a “What to do after a cyclone” checklist, or
• localise it further for commercial, construction or strata clients.