Winmalee residents were among the hardest hit by wild weather in the Penrith-Blue Mountains region this spring, new data from the NRMA has revealed.
The township recorded the region's third highest number of home claims for weather damage in the last three months, behind only Cranebrook and Glenmore Park.
The NRMA Insurance data reveals there were about 10,000 home claims for weather damage in spring across NSW, Queensland and the ACT - which is 35 per cent above average.
With a La Nina weather system now officially declared for Australia's east coast, NRMA Insurance's executive manager natural perils, Mark Leplastrier, urged Australians to take the threat of a wet and potentially wild summer seriously.
"Spring featured some of the most unpredictable and extreme weather we have seen in many years, and with a La Nina system now declared, we could be in for more wet weather over summer," he said.
"From flooding in central NSW and western QLD, to tornadoes and earthquakes hitting NSW and Victoria, as well as record rain and hail events across the east coast - it has been an ominous start to Storm Season. To prepare for a wetter than usual summer ahead of us, it's important that people start thinking about how they can protect their homes from thunderstorms and fast moving hailstorms."
Blue Mountains SES manager John Hughes backed this up, saying they are expecting a summer storm pattern until at least March "where we will continue to have days that are hot and humid, turning quickly into heavy rain storms with some hail".
The NSW SES has received 734 calls for assistance for storms across the Blue Mountains so far in 2021.
"There has been no significant locations that stood out for us," said Mr Hughes. "The windstorms during November did peak at 109 km/hour at Blackheath and we had about 75 jobs west of Wentworth Falls, but nothing in the Lower Mountains."
National Resilience Advisor at Australian Red Cross, John Richardson, said that psychological preparation for wild weather can be just as important as physical preparation.
"We know that disasters and emergencies can upend people's lives, disrupt mental wellbeing and fragment relationships and communities," said Mr Richardson.
"A recent Australian Red Cross survey looked at the emergency experiences of people and demonstrated that the more prepared people feel, the lower their stress levels at the time, and the better their recovery after an emergency. The good news is being prepared helps us be in control and make good decisions during and after a disaster.
"For tips on how to feel more prepared, I'd encourage all Australians to download the Get Prepared app which includes tools to help prepare the mind ahead of what could be a wet and wild summer for many."