On Tuesday 27 May 2025, the Insurance Council of Australia upgraded its classification of the Mid North Coast and Hunter flooding event that has impacted communities since 17 May to an Insurance Catastrophe.
The decision to upgrade from a Significant Event (declared on Wednesday 21 May) to a Catastrophe was informed by feedback on the ground about the local severity of this event and the ongoing challenges that are faced in the recovery efforts.
This event has most significantly impacted communities along the Mid Coast including Taree, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey, Nambucca Valley, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour, and into parts of the Hunter and Central Coast.