Queensland has a beautiful and diverse landscape, and an equally diverse range of weather events with floods, cyclones, severe storms and bushfires. In fact, Queensland is the most disaster impacted state in Australia, with almost 90 disaster events in the past decade. Longreach has experienced major flooding in the past and Ilfracombe, Isisford and Yaraka have been isolated for lengthy periods of time due to rising floodwaters. Graziers have also experienced periods of isolation due to flood events.
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted wetter than average conditions this year due to the formation of a La Niña in the tropical Pacific. It is now time to prepare your household and business to protect what matters most and take the pressure off emergency services.
Over the past 12 months, Queensland had the highest annual population growth rate (1.6%) of any Australian state and territory, and this growth is continuing. For many of these new residents, this will be their first Queensland summer and it is essential that they take the three steps to Get Ready:
Know your risk
Make an emergency plan
Pack an emergency kit
Step one: Know your risk
Contact Council to find out about natural disasters that may impact your home or local area and talk to your neighbours and people in your community to see if there is a history of disasters in your area. Once you know the risks in your area, you can take steps to find out how best to protect your property, possessions, business and family.
Step two: Make an emergency plan
The best way to ensure everyone knows what to do and where to go in an emergency is by keeping a Household Emergency Plan. Sit down with your family and make a list of important contacts like family and friends who live out of town, doctors, insurance providers, utility providers, emergency meeting places and details on where you'd stay if you needed to evacuate quickly.
Step three: Pack an emergency kit
Keep a waterproof kit full of emergency supplies you'd need to last at least three days at home if you were isolated due to flooding. Include plenty of non-perishable food and water, a can opener, a torch, battery powered radio, mobile phone and charger, toiletries including tissues and hand sanitiser, face masks, disinfectant wipes, sturdy gloves, spare batteries, gas cooker, important documents saved to a USB or placed in a sealed bag, waterproof bags, cash, a first aid kit including medication, baby formula and nappies and board games to help pass the time.
