Be prepared for flooding in Brisbane

With the rain falling outside and expected to for a few more days yet, it may be a good time to get some advice about how to prepare for flooding.  The Brisbane City council has a range of great ideas and tools that you can use to protect yourself.

Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Use Council’s range of free tools and information to help you understand your property’s potential flood risk and how to be prepared.

Have an emergency kit ready with essential items such as bottled water to drink, non-perishable food, torches, radio and camp stove. Prepare your kit in advance and keep it somewhere you can easily access. Consider including items on our emergency kit contents checklist.

Pay attention to radio, television and online weather updates for the most up to date information about severe weather and flooding.

Watch where water flows during heavy rain to get an idea of the path of possible floodwaters around your property.

Properties near a river, creek, gully or tidal waterway are more likely to flood. Use Council’s range of free tools and information to locate water sources near your property.

Make sure you’re financially covered in case of an emergency. Check that your insurances (home and contents, and car) are current and provide enough flood coverage.

Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of rising floodwaters. Remember to consider how road closures and interruptions to public transport could affect you and your ability to leave the area.

Keep supply of plastic shopping bags to use as sand bags to divert storm water away from your property.

Masking tape and plastic sheeting or large garbage bags can be used to protect your property from heavy rain in an emergency.

Talk to your neighbours who may have experienced previous floods in your area to get an idea of what to expect and to have someone nearby in an emergency.

Never drive through or enter floodwaters. They can be deeper than they look and have strong currents under the surface.

Being caught in floodwaters can be life-threatening.

Make sure you think of your pets in preparing for any emergency: include pet food in your emergency kit and make sure your dog is registered and microchipped.