First published 15 Oct 2026, 2:33pm
The total cost of the devastating Alice Springs storm earlier this week could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
A line of thunderstorms tore through Alice Springs on Monday, with the region smashed by wind gusts reaching up to 125km/h in some areas.
The total cost of the devastating Alice Springs storm could run into hundreds of millions of dollars.
The storms were so intense they ripped the roofs off buildings, smashed into cars and homes, and left thousands without power.
Alice Springs Deputy Mayor Daniel Rochford described the chaos that unfolded as the storm tore through the city.
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“I’d have to say probably one of the scariest things I’ve experienced. I was actually in the middle of the storm, driving from my work to my home when it hit,” Rochford told media
“I had trees falling around me, around my car, I could not see the road in front of me.”
Authorities and insurance companies have been reluctant to put a figure on the economic cost of the storm, considered a “once in 40 years event:”, however it is could be in excess of $200m.
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One of the bedrooms from the Klarenbeek's home in Alice Springs, which had its roof blown off during severe weather in the town, October 13, 2026. Picture: Gera Kazakov
More damage wreaked by the storm. Picture: Gera Kazakov
That cost is based on the clean-up costs of the massive devastation wrought by the March 1988 Alice Springs flood and since.
A 2017 risk assessment conducted by the Alice Springs Flood Mitigation Committee found that if a major weather event hit the city, it would cost around $155m to recover from.
That $155m is more than $200m today, given inflation and the increasing costs of materials.
Insurers have been inundated with queries and claims since the storm hit.
Debris on the Alice Springs Golf Course after a violent storm smashed through the town
“Insurers are already receiving claims following the severe weather that affected Alice Springs overnight with around 450 claims lodged so far, mostly for debris damage and water ingress,” a spokesperson from the Insurance Council of Australia said.
“Anyone whose property has been damaged should contact their insurer as soon as possible to lodge a claim and seek advice on next steps.
The fury came from above. Picture: Supplied
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