Premier warns more storms on the way

Premier Anna Bligh has thanked volunteers for their efforts but warned of more severe storms across south east Queensland tonight and this weekend.

Ms Bligh met residents and inspected damage in Blackwater near Emerald in Central Queensland today.

“This town has been battered by a storm with incredibly strong winds and we have to be prepared for the same sort of treatment in other parts of SEQ over the next 48 hours,” she said.

Weather forecasters say there is a possibility of severe storm systems to affecting areas from Emerald to the Gold Coast today.

More storms are expected from Barcaldine through to Brisbane on Saturday afternoon.

“These systems are expected to deliver hail, heavy rainfall and damaging winds of around 90 kilometres per hour. Stronger, gusty winds are expected on Saturday,” said the Premier.

“Our volunteers are working to complete as many outstanding jobs as possible before this afternoon.

“But residents should do as much as possible to ensure that their homes are prepared.”

Ms Bligh said that local SES in the SE Queensland area is primed to respond quickly to emerging events.

“A stock of 8085 Tarpaulins exists in Queensland and a further 5800 are on order,” she said.

“It is planned for 389 SES to be available on Saturday and 313 SES Sunday and three companies of the ADF are on standby to deal with this storm.”

The Premeir said the storms had cut a swathe of damage across the SE.

“After the severe storm on Sunday the join State and Commonwealth funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery arrangements were activated for eight local government areas,” she said.

“These were Brisbane City, Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim, Ipswich, Gold Coast, Somerset, Logan City and Sunshine Coast.

“But since then we have activated the same arrangements for five more councils – Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Lockyer Valley, Dalby and Central Highlands Regional Council.

“This should give people some indication of how widespread this storm activity has been.”

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said that four new community Recovery Centres at Everton Hills, Ipswich, Rosewood and Narangba were opened yesterday in addition to the existing centre at Ashgrove.

“A shopfront centre has been opened at Keperra where Building Services Authority staff are providing advice to homeowners,” he added.

Minister Roberts said that Bureau of Meteorology figures show that 232 mm rain has fallen in Brisbane since Sunday.

“In addition 264 mm fell in Ipswich, 244 mm in Gatton and 54 mm fell in Blackwater last night.

“Since Sunday’s severe storm event the SES has received nearly 22,000 calls to the 132500 line.

“As of this morning 14,500 insurance claims have been registered - worth $145 million - that number is expected to continue to rise.

“1227 homes and businesses have been tarped across the SE. Over 4,000 homes and businesses have been affected by the storms.

“Since Sunday SES volunteers have contributed an estimated 20,000 volunteer hours to the effort and that will continue over the weekend.”

There were 370 ADF members helping with the clean up efforts in the Brisbane region yesterday.

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