Published Thursday, 17 January, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Treasurer
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
Boats deployed in preparation for floodwaters
The Queensland Government is forward deploying six floodboats in the State’s south-west in anticipation of rising waters.
Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser said Emergency Management Queensland has decided to deploy two floodboats to Charleville and another four boats to Roma. The floodboats are being deployed from the Darling Downs communities unaffected by floodwaters.
“Floodboats become essential in working in inundated areas. It allows State Emergency Service members to move around flooded parts to evacuate or re-supply residents,” Mr Fraser said.
“Preparations for potential major flooding in the south-west, particularly in Charleville and Augathella, are continuing. Resources are also being forward deployed to Roma as a staging area.
“We will be closely monitoring rain overnight and what that means for river levels.”
Additionally, Queensland Health is making preparations to evacuate Charleville Hospital patients to Roma or Toowoomba Hospitals by plane should the need arise.
Mr Fraser said while Charleville was no stranger to major floods, including the devastating floods of 1990 and 1997, it has been drought declared by the Queensland Government for almost five years, since1 February 2003.
Media Contact Chris Taylor 0419 710 874
17 January 2008
Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser said Emergency Management Queensland has decided to deploy two floodboats to Charleville and another four boats to Roma. The floodboats are being deployed from the Darling Downs communities unaffected by floodwaters.
“Floodboats become essential in working in inundated areas. It allows State Emergency Service members to move around flooded parts to evacuate or re-supply residents,” Mr Fraser said.
“Preparations for potential major flooding in the south-west, particularly in Charleville and Augathella, are continuing. Resources are also being forward deployed to Roma as a staging area.
“We will be closely monitoring rain overnight and what that means for river levels.”
Additionally, Queensland Health is making preparations to evacuate Charleville Hospital patients to Roma or Toowoomba Hospitals by plane should the need arise.
Mr Fraser said while Charleville was no stranger to major floods, including the devastating floods of 1990 and 1997, it has been drought declared by the Queensland Government for almost five years, since1 February 2003.
Media Contact Chris Taylor 0419 710 874
17 January 2008