Flood | Get Ready Queensland

Living with flooding is part of life in Queensland. We can’t prevent floods from happening, but we can take steps to be prepared.

What is a flood?

To put it simply, flooding is a when a normally dry area is covered in water. No two floods are the same, and different types of flooding can occur and vary depending on the quantity, duration and location of rain falling on our catchments.

Flood impacts

Floods can have both positive and negative impacts. While flooding can bring welcome relief for people and ecosystems suffering from prolonged drought, they can also damage homes, communities, businesses, schools, roads and infrastructure, and even lead to loss of life.

Flood types

Riverine flooding

Riverine flooding happens when there’s been a lot of rain over several days or weeks. When there is too much water, creeks and rivers can burst their banks and that’s when flooding happens. In some parts of inland Queensland, riverine flooding can spread thousands of square kilometres for weeks or even months at a time. Related weather events include tropical cyclones, lows, monsoon troughs.

Flash flooding

Flash flooding happens where there is a lot of rain in a short period of time. It can happen anywhere, at anytime, and often without a lot of warning. Flash flooding is dangerous. Expect to see powerful, water moving fast. In built up, urban areas, drains, creeks and rivers can fill up quickly and spread across nearby buildings, streets, roads and parks. Related weather events include severe storms.

Storm surge and storm tide

Storm surge is sea water pushed onto land, often during a cyclone. Storm surges happen with the sea levels rise higher than normal tide levels. Storm tides are when the when storm surges happen alongside a high-tide. They can swamp low-lying areas, sometimes for kilometres inland. Strong winds at the coast can also make the impact worse by causing large waves. Related weather events include severe storms, tropical cyclones, low-pressure systems.

Understand your flood risk

Contact your local council to learn more about your flood risk.

Here are some questions to help you get started:

What is the flood risk at my place? Where can I find this information?
Could my property be flooded? (Ask about ground level versus flood levels)
Could my house be flooded? (Ask about floor level versus flood level)
Could my street be cut off by flood waters?
Where would I go if I needed to evacuate?
Which flood warning gauge is most relevant for me?

Make sure to check the flood risk for other locations that are important to you e.g. schools, work, relatives and any other places you regularly visit, considering safe potential evacuation routes and locations should you need to evacuate.

Understand flood warnings

All Queenslanders should be familiar with official flood warnings to be able to seek information, make decisions and act.

Register with your council for flood warnings and alerts or visit your local council website or disaster dashboard for the latest emergency information.
Get flood warning notifications direct to your device with the BOM Weather App
Check the Bureau of Meteorology website - Queensland Warnings Summary .
Tune into local radio stations and social media and stay informed for situational awareness.
Watch the 'Flood warnings' video to find out more about how Queensland’s rain and river gauges work, and how forecasts warn our communities about the approximate size of a flood and when it is likely to reach different locations so that people know how to respond.

Steps to reduce the impact of floods

Take the following steps to reduce both the emotional and tangible impacts of floods:

Make a plan

Having a plan means everyone in your household knows what to do in an emergency.

Pack a kit

Check out what you need to pack your household emergency and evacuation kits.

Learn more about flooding

Visit the The Flood Website for Queenslanders to learn even more about flooding in Queensland. Find reliable information for individuals, families, businesses, communities, councils and flood practitioners.

Get your home ready for severe weather

Learn what to do when a Cyclone, Severe Thunderstorm or Flood is on the way.

Make sure you're covered

Check your flood insurance and make sure you're covered.

Protect your vehicle, caravan and boat

Put a plan in place to protect your car, caravan and/ or boat during flooding.

Alerts and warnings

Subscribe to alerts and warnings services to stay informed of severe storms in your area.