The June 2007 storm (the Pasha Bulker storm) was one of the most significant meteorological events in Australia’s history. It was the 4th largest general insurance loss (inflation adjusted) since systematic insurance records were started in 1968. The storm consisted of three distinct impacts (1) flash flooding in the urban area of Newcastle (and as far south as the Central Coast, impacting 800,000 people) on the night of 8 June (about 1 in 100 year return period) (2) more general flooding on the Hunter River 3 days later (about 1 in 40 return period, impacting about 100,000 people) and (3) high winds and wave heights on the night of 8 June (the worst in the Newcastle-Sydney region since the “Sygna” storm in 1974, also an east coast low). While the media focus was on the grounded “Pasha Bulker” and the Hunter floods, most insurance losses resulted from the 8 June flash flooding, as did the 5 fatalities.
Citation:
Verdon-Kidd, D, Kiem, AS, Willgoose, G & Haines, P 2010, East Coast Lows and the Newcastle/Central Coast Pasha Bulker storm, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, 61 pp.