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2011 Brisbane floods
Background facts about 2011 Brisbane floods
From December 2010-January 2011 Brisbane, Queensland’s state capital
underwent major flooding. The floods took place in Brisbane, Ipswich and
southeast Queensland.
Brisbane - 27° 29' 20" South, 153° 0' 50" East
The Brisbane river catchment rose to 4.46 meters the morning of the
flood, destroying 15,000 homes and businesses. The areas most severely
affected were in the catchments of the Lockyer creek and the Bremer
River.
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Causes and impacts of 2011 Brisbane floods
The 2011 Brisbane floods were a massive devastation to not only
Brisbane but also the rest of Australia. This devastating natural disaster
was predominantly caused by a combination of the annual monsoon rains
and La Nina. Monsoon is a seasonal low-pressure trough that brings wet
weather and heavy rains from the northwest. La Nina is an interaction
between the Pacific Ocean and the earth’s atmosphere, the strong
easterly winds push warmer water to west, which then build up on the
east coast of Australia and cause it to rain. These caused rivers to rise
and resulted in a large area of Queensland being flooded.
The immediate impact on individuals and local communities was that the
floods unfortunately resulted in 38 fatalities and 6 people were reported
missing. The natural and built environment was impacted by 18,000
properties being inundated in the area Brisbane River valley. There was
also a loss to the community of 2.38 billions dollars worth of damage.
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Preparing for future disasters
On the central coast
Flood Hazard Zones on the Central Coast: The Ourimbah creek
catchment, that includes: Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Ourimbah,
Palmdale, Fountaindale and Lisarow. These are the main areas of the
central coast that are at high risk of flooding.
What you can do to protect yourself and your property from a flood:
The first thing you should do once you are aware that there is a flood in
your local area is to find out where the safety zones are. If you are
currently not in a safety zone then find your way to one.
Don’t enter areas that look like they are at danger to you.
Never go through floodwater, even if it doesn’t appear to be very deep or
dangerous as the water could be deeper/faster flowing than it appears to
be and it could contain hidden debris such as trees. (This is the main
cause of death associated with floods.
Locate anyone who is with you, pets and prepare possible evacuation.
Constantly listen to the radio for updates and information about the
floods.
If you are trapped in any type of building, get to the highest part possible
and 000 for help.
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What you should do to help after the disaster:
Once you are certain that the flooding is completely finished and
authorities have assured you that it is safe return to your property.
Make sure your house is stable and will not collapse before entering.
Check for any damage to the roof, floor, walls and windows.
Also before entering make sure the gas and electricity are turned off.
Use a torch to fully inspect the building.
Check every power point and all electrical equipment if they have been
exposed to floodwater or are at all water damaged, if so then an
electrician must inspect them.
Suitable protective clothing must be worn when cleaning up, including
boots and gloves.