1. Before

Queenslanders are impacted by more natural disasters than anyone else in Australia. Being prepared for severe weather is part and parcel of living here. Your first step to being ready is to find out what, when, and where a disaster might happen, how severe it could potentially be, and if you would be affected.

• Get to know the risk of disaster in Queensland.
• Check the bushfire potential at your property using the QFD postcode checker and find out more about bushfire risk.
• Every flood is different, however you can see areas that have flooded in the past at Ipswich City Historical Flood Information.
• Queensland Fire Department rescue more people from water each year than they do from fires. Know the dangers of driving through flood waters.

Having a household emergency plan ensures that everyone in your home knows what to do in an emergency. It covers important topics like what you will do, what you will bring and where you will go if you are directed to evacuate, as well as key contacts like your workplace, school and general practitioner.

• For information in another language, view our translated resources.
• If you or someone you care for has a disability or needs assistance with daily living tasks, the Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness Workbook is a great tool for emergency planning tailored to individual support needs.
• Make your emergency plan online today using this handy online tool. If you have livestock, use this livestock emergency plan.
• Learn about the Australian Warning System and decide what you will do if you receive a warning. Learn more about Emergency Alerts.
• Don’t forget to plan for your pets in an emergency.
• Small businesses can check out the Small Business Disaster Hub for tips on managing potential impacts to your business and livelihood.
• Create a bushfire survival plan using the Queensland Fire Department online tool. Decide if you will leave early, or if you will stay.
• Prepare for evacuation and shelter to save you time and stress in the event of a disaster.

Severe weather can cause your home to lose power, water and gas. You also may not be able to get to a supermarket or pharmacy for supplies. Prepare an emergency kit and store it somewhere safe so you have the essentials while authorities work to restore utilities.

• Find out what to pack in your emergency kit using this handy checklist.
• Think about what items your family might need if you get stuck at home for three days.
• Buying a few items each time you are at the supermarket will help you build your kit over time while keeping costs down.

Home maintenance is key to improving your home’s resilience. This might be as simple as tidying up around the yard, or you can think about resilient design and materials.

• Watch Ipswich City Council’s Get Storm Ready in Ipswich video to learn about securing your home for storm season.
• Visit the QFD website to learn about the simple actions you can take to reduce your fire safety risks at home. You can even request firefighters visit your home through their Safehome program to help you identify fire safety hazards at home.
• Sandbags can be helpful to reduce the amount of water entering a home if placed strategically before a flood event, but they are not waterproof and they will not completely stop water from entering your home. You can purchase sandbags from most major hardware stores. Learn more about how to use them effectively and when council will and will not supply sandbags, on councils FAQ for Sandbags webpage.
• Learn more about resilient building options.

• View our Get Ready Ipswich checklist which includes checklists and information on public health, emergency and evacuation, animals, shelters and evacuation.
• Videos about flooding in Queensland:
  • Flooding in Queensland
  • How Queensland’s river catchments work
  • Riverine flooding
  • Flash flooding.
• Severe storms and hail
• Understanding heatwaves