Queenslanders urged to Get Ready for storm season

With the storm season just around the corner the Premier has urged Queenslanders to be prepared at the Get Ready Queensland Week (8-14 October) launch in Brisbane today.

The launch coincided with the Bureau of Meteorology’s Cyclone and Severe Weather Outlook.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also launched the Queensland State Disaster Management Plan, which outlines how Queensland will prevent, prepare, respond to and recover from disasters.

“We know that Queensland is the most disaster impacted state in Australia, with more than 60 disaster events since 2011,” Ms Palaszczuk.

“What we want is for the community to check their ‘WHAT IF?’ plan and get ready to respond if a disaster strikes.

“We know from experience that informed and prepared residents and communities are able to respond to and recover from disasters more quickly than those who don’t.

“It only takes one flood, one fire or one storm to impact a community and being prepared can save households from damage, destruction or even loss of life.”

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Cameron Dick said preparation was the key to protecting families and communities in a disaster.

“We can’t always predict where and when a disaster will happen, but what we do know is that in a state like Queensland, it will happen,” Mr Dick said.

“Get Ready Queensland Week is a chance for Queenslanders to think about their families, homes and businesses, and what steps we can take to help keep them safe.”

Bureau of Meteorology State Manager Bruce Gunn said severe thunderstorm activity increases in Queensland during spring and summer, typically peaking between October and December.

"Brisbane is particularly prone to severe thunderstorms and sees significantly more severe thunderstorm days than any other capital city in Australia,” Mr Gunn said.

"The Tropical Cyclone Outlook released today, points to an average to slightly below average season due to the influence of a possible El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, which generally brings warmer and drier conditions to Queensland.

“On average one in four tropical cyclones in the Coral Sea cross the coast, and it only takes one cyclone to make a significant season – as we have seen with the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Debbie last year.

“The cyclone season usually runs from November to April, although one early season cyclone has already occurred in the southern hemisphere with Cyclone Liua, the first on record in the Fijian region in September.

"Indications for 2018-19 are for a lower than average chance of widespread major flooding but we anticipate major flooding somewhere in Queensland every wet season," he said.

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford said the Queensland State Disaster Management Plan positions our state as a national leader in managing natural disasters.

“Recent events have demonstrated how disasters can severely affect our communities, the economy and the environment, so it’s important that we are all prepared and ready to respond and implement recovery arrangements when needed,” Mr Crawford said.

“The plan provides guidance to local and district disaster management groups, both of which perform vital roles in effectively managing disasters in Queensland.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner Katarina Carroll said strong disaster planning was critical to build a safe and resilient Queensland Community.

“Queensland agencies continue to work closely together to ensure a holistic and comprehensive approach to preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters,” she said.

Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Bob Gee said it was important that everyone in the community understood how they could protect themselves and their property in a disaster.

“Police are committed to working with the entire community and will always be there for the them in times of disaster.

The Palaszczuk Government has committed $2 million to Get Ready Queensland to help councils prepare their communities for disaster in 2018-19.

For more information on Get Ready Queensland visit: https://getready.qld.gov.au/

Queensland State Disaster Management Plan:  www.disaster.qld.gov.au

Media contact:

Premier’s office – Zoe Russell: 0439 982 347