Summer over but storm threat lingers

PROPERTY Residential

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean the threat of severe storms has passed for south-east Queensland. Storm season runs until around the end of March each year and Brisbane City Council is encouraging residents to make sure they are prepared for severe weather with more storms possible in the weeks ahead.

Council says the simplest step you can take to prepare for storms is to sign up to its Brisbane Early Warning Alert Service. By signing up to the free service, you will receive an alert by SMS, email or voice message to landline when severe weather such as storms and flash flooding may affect their residential address. To date, more than 42,000 households have signed up to the service.
On getting an alert, residents should make sure their home and yard is prepared for the approaching severe weather, such as securing loose items in their yard, getting their car under cover, moving valuable items to higher ground if they live in a flood prone area and listening to their local radio station for updates.
You can easily sign up to the Brisbane Early Warning Alert Service by visiting www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or phoning council on 3403 8888.
As the storm season continues, residents should make sure there are no tree branches overhanging their home, gutters and drainpipes are clear of leaf litter, and their emergency kit is up to date.
An emergency kit should contain a first aid kit, battery operated radio, spare batteries, torch and waterproof bags containing important documents such as emergency contact numbers, insurance papers and birth certificates. Canned food is also a good idea in case of power outages. Residents are also reminded that severe storms can often result in flash flooding.
To find out more about the potential for flooding on your property, you can get a free FloodWise Property Report and download the Flood Flag map for your suburb from the city council’s website at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
The FloodWise Property Report and Flood Flag maps shows how flooding from overland flow paths, rivers, creeks and storm tides may affect your property. For emergency assistance inside your property boundary resulting from storms, flooding or strong winds, contact the SES on 132 500.
To report issues outside your property such as downed trees across roads or footpaths, loose manhole covers or blocked stormwater drains, contact council on 3403 8888.