Swiftwater and SES floodboat crews ready to respond to emergencies

Swiftwater and SES floodboat crews have been pre-deployed to areas likely to be impacted by severe weather in coming days, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said today (Sunday).

Mr Crawford said the specialist crews are being strategically positioned between Cairns and Rockhampton.

“While local capability and capacity is very strong, ex-Tropical Cyclone Iris is continuing to track towards Queensland, and could bring heavy rainfall and gale force winds from late tomorrow,” Mr Crawford said.

“Extra crews have been deployed to bolster the response capability. These crews can be moved to areas most likely to be impacted by heavy rain as the track of the weather system becomes clearer.

“If you’re in the flood watch area between Cairns and Rockhampton, please monitor weather updates issued by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) as the system moves closer to the coast.

“Fire and Rescue, SES, Rural Fire and incident management crews do a fantastic job during severe weather, and I would like to commend them on their dedication to supporting their local communities.

“We’ve been hit hard by severe weather events over the past few weeks, and with more heavy rain and strong winds around the corner, I know we will once again see QFES personnel right across Queensland step up to the job.”

QFES Far Northern Region Assistant Commissioner John Bolger said it was important residents and visitors take the time to prepare ahead of the heavy rain and strong winds, expected to impact coastal communities from tomorrow.

“People should be aware of the weather situation by monitoring the Bureau of Meteorology and local media for updates, and have a plan in place in case the situation changes quickly,” Mr Bolger said.

“Talk to your family about what you will do if you need to evacuate. Know where you will go, what you will take, and what you will do with your pets.

“Make sure you have an emergency kit stocked, including non-perishable food, water, first aid and personal supplies, clothing, torches, a battery-operated radio and important documents.”

The SES can be contacted on 132 500 but if it is a life-threatening emergency call Triple Zero (000).

Queenslanders looking for tips on how to prepare for a severe weather event or for more details on emergency kits should visit getready.qld.gov.au.

ENDS

MEDIA 0412 393 909