New research has revealed nearly one million Queenslanders aren't prepared for natural disasters in any way, despite being the most at risk in Australia.
A finder.com.au survey of 2010 Australians found that 15 per cent of them weren't prepared for a bushfire, cyclone, or flood. Things were worse in Queensland which came in at 17 per cent, or 823,560 residents.
Bessie Hassan, Finder's insurance expert, said it was concerning so many Queenslanders were unprepared considering the state was the most at risk of many natural disasters, like flooding and cyclones.
"Whether it's having an evacuation plan or a home insurance policy, being preventative before summer hits is important."
Finder.com.au counts having insurance, an evacuation plan, firefighting supplies, and emergency kits as being disaster prepared.
RACQ insurance spokeswoman Kirsty Clinton said her company had found similar results in its own surveys, with another disturbing trend: while their home may be prepared, they had no plans to keep their family safe.
"It's silly to think it's not going to happen. Queensland weather has shown you what it can do," Ms Clinton said. "Your home is the most valuable thing you'll ever own and your family is the most valuable thing to you."
Ms Clinton said it was also worth considering you might be underprepared too: if your financial or living circumstances changed since the last natural disaster season you might not be properly insured.
"In a year a lot can happen, renovations can change the value of your home and that can change how much your insured for," she said. "You might have got engaged, and have a ring that's not insured or someone else moves in and their furniture isn't insured."
Ms Hassan said it was always better to be prepared long before the storm season starts, so you aren't caught off guard.
"It's important to remember that typically it will be too late to take out a home insurance policy once a cyclone has been named," she said.
