Suncorp's inaugural Resilient Home Report research has found 27 percent of Australians have moved or considered relocating during COVID. And although experts are predicting more cyclones, fires, and floods this summer, half failed to consider the impacts of natural disasters.

The inaugural Suncorp Resilient Home Report found lifestyle factors (closeness to family and friends, climate, escaping the rat race) were the main drivers of Australians seeking to relocate to another state or region.

Alarmingly almost half (46 percent) said they didn’t take into consideration the increasing risks of extreme weather when deciding on where to live, and even more (52 percent) didn’t consider the impacts when selecting the type of home to live in.

“As an insurer, we’re on the frontline helping people and communities most impacted by weather disasters,” said Bernadette Norrie, Suncorp Insurance Executive Manager. “It’s not just property damage that Aussies face in the wake of a natural disaster, it’s the mental toll of severe weather events that many people fail to realise and properly consider.

“Once a disaster strikes, the lives of those affected can be upended completely. Many families can be displaced from their homes while repairs happen, people lose irreplaceable possessions, and are left with the emotional scars of what they’ve endured.

Suncorp research also found that one in five did not consider the frequency or severity of natural disasters before making their sea/ tree change.

The Suncorp Resilient Home Report revealed over half of Australians (52 percent) believe they live in an area with some form of risk – the most common being severe storms (30 percent) followed by bushfires (29 percent).

More than two-thirds (64 percent) admit that extreme weather events in recent years have made them more aware of the risks, however only one in four have made modifications to their home to protect against natural disasters.

“Getting ready for extreme weather is more than just checking gutters for leaves and trees and tying down backyard furniture, it’s about making your home more resilient so you are better protected from the impacts of Mother Nature.” Ms. Norrie said.

Get weather-ready: Prepare for natural hazard risks