Sonali Tiwary
A tornado struck Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast on October 3, leaving two homes uninhabitable and forcing a sustained emergency response from the State Emergency Service. If you own or rent property in the affected area — or have family there — here is what happened and what to do next.
The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the tornado touched down in Ulladulla, generating a wind-gust front of approximately 98 km/h. The SES logged 34 damage reports across the town. Fifteen properties were affected, at least six severely, and two homes were left uninhabitable. SES crews were active for more than 24 hours following the event. No injuries were reported.
Despite the extent of property damage, BOM classified the tornado as sub-severe — a lower formal classification than its visible impact might suggest.
If your home or business was in the storm path, photograph the damage first, contact your insurer promptly and check with the insurer before authorising any repair or debris-removal work. Many Australian home and contents policies cover storm damage, but whether tornado-related damage is covered depends on the individual policy, exclusions and limits. NSW SES can assist on 132 500 with storm-related hazards and emergency stabilisation.
The 98 km/h gust was above BOM’s 90 km/h damaging-wind threshold but below its 125 km/h destructive-wind threshold. BOM nevertheless described the tornado itself as a sub-severe event.
Ulladulla sits in the Shoalhaven region, where tornadoes are uncommon. Information on extreme coastal weather patterns and emergency storm preparation is available for residents across the region.
Does Australian home insurance cover tornado damage?
Many comprehensive Australian home and building insurance policies cover tornado damage under storm and tempest provisions, but coverage depends on the individual policy wording, exclusions and limits. Photograph all damage — debris, unroofed sections, water ingress — immediately and before emergency clean-up crews arrive to tarp or clear the property.
The SES is continuing property assessments across the affected area. Further damage inspection tallies from Shoalhaven City Council are expected in coming days. If you have unassessed damage, register with the NSW SES at 132 500. Check back as official damage figures are updated.
