If the situation is life threatening, always call triple zero (000).
From time to time the Toowoomba Region is faced with adverse weather events and natural disasters. Being prepared can help safeguard your family, pets and property during an emergency situation.
In the event of an emergency or disaster there is often little time to act, however, there are vital preparations that can be completed ahead of time to ensure the best possible mitigation against injury and loss of life.
Types of disasters that can impact our region
Always be prepared for the following events to minimise danger to yourself, your family and your property. Take steps to prepare yourself for:
Preparation resources
Get Ready Queensland is a Queensland Government program that helps communities prepare for natural disasters. This information focuses on building resilience so you’re ready before, during and after severe weather events. Key information included on the site is:
Australian Red Cross and multilingual preparedness resources are also useful disaster preparation tools.
General preparation steps
Regardless of the type of disaster, the five simple steps below will assist in preparing your household for natural hazards and emergencies.
Step one - Prepare your home
Follow instructions on the Protect your home | Get Ready Queensland webpage to protect your home from natural disasters. At a minimum, ensure the following tasks are completed regularly.
General maintenance
- Check roof condition and repair loose tiles, eaves and screws.
- Clean gutters and downpipes so water can drain away quickly.
- Trim trees and overhanging branches.
- Secure loose items that could cause damage if blown around.
General preparations
- Ensure your home, contents and car insurance is current, adequate and includes debris clean up and removal.
- Identify the strongest part of your home to take shelter in during a severe storm – this is usually the smallest room in the house with the fewest windows.
- Know where and how to turn off main supply for water, power and gas.
- Buy emergency essentials including:
- drinking water containers
- spare fuel
- wide masking tape for windows
- hessian bags and sand for sandbagging.
Step two - Prepare for your pets
Detailed information is available on the Protect your pet | Get Ready Queensland website, to help ensure you keep your pets safe during a disaster.
Be emergency ready for your pets
- Ensure pets are properly identified with a collar that has a Council registration tag, name tag with your phone number and their microchip details are up-to-date.
- Use a secure carrier or leash when transporting animals
- If housing your animal away from home temporarily, ensure it has necessary food and medication for its stay.
- Buy a pet carrier for smaller pets. A collapsible crate can be helpful for larger pets.
- Include items for your pets in your emergency kit and evacuation kit like food and vaccination records.
- Check that your planned evacuation location allows pets or see if your pet can stay with friends or family.
What to do if staying home with pets during a disaster
- Place pets in separate rooms with small or preferably no windows like your laundry or bathroom.
- If you need to move pets to a safer location, do it early.
- If staying home, secure animals indoors.
- Do not tie animals up outside.
- Do not leave pets in vehicles.
- Put food and water in large, heavy bowls.
Evacuating with your pet
If evacuating with your pet, ensure your evacuation kit includes all items your pet will need.
Evacuating without your pet
Leave your pet in the strongest part of your home and:
- leave plenty of food and water in sturdy, non-spill accessible containers
- fill the bathtub with water and disinfect the toilet bowl, flush well, fill and leave the lid open
- provide comfortable and familiar bedding
- never leave a cat in the same room with a dog even if they get along
- provide fish with long-term food blocks and install back-up power for fish tank filters
- put water and a special food dispenser in bird cages as birds need food daily.
Lost pets after a disaster
If you lose your pet during a disaster, follow the information in our Lost and found pets and animals article.
Step three - Prepare your business
Access the 'Natural disaster preparation' checklists for your business from Business Queensland to help prepare your business for a disaster. Two important steps to follow are:
1. Develop a business continuity plan
This plan should include the following tasks:
- organise insurance
- train staff in first aid
- establish evacuation procedures
- back up business data
- identify risks to staffing and information systems
- prepare your business premises.
Start your business continuity plan.
2. Develop a business emergency plan
A business emergency plan should involve:
- documenting actions staff should take when an emergency occurs, including putting down sandbags and boarding up glass doors and windows
- training staff in their responsibilities.
Step four - Prepare an emergency plan and emergency and evacuation kits
Take the time to prepare an emergency plan and both emergency and evacuation kits. Once prepared, keep your plan and emergency and evacuation kits in a sturdy, easy to carry bag or waterproof storage box and store in a safe place that is easy to access.
How to make an emergency plan
An emergency plan helps you plan ahead so you know what to do during an emergency. The Get Ready Queensland - Make a plan tool makes creation of your personalised plan easy.
When creating your plan, you should:
- include all your household members when you prepare your emergency plan
- practise your plan with your household so that everyone knows how to respond if there’s a disaster.
The plan should include:
- a list of all household members and their contact details
- emergency phone numbers and other important contacts
- contact details for family members and friends
- safe evacuation routes from your home, avoiding risks such as roads that may flood
- instructions on how to turn off electricity and water
- one or more meeting places in case you are separated or need to leave your home
- important medical information for each household member
- details of insurance policies and utility providers, such as gas, electricity, water, phone and sewerage
- contact details for schools, childcare centres, nursing homes or other services you rely on
- a plan for your pets and animals, noting that some evacuation centres may not be able to take them
- plans for both staying at home and leaving your home during an emergency.
What to pack in an emergency kit
The Emergency Survival Kit List | Get Ready QLD webpage has detailed instructions for the creation of your emergency kit.
The following items are essential:
- important documents such as driver's licence, passport, birth certificate, insurance documents and cash in sealed bags or scanned to a USB
- torch and batteries
- baby formula and nappies
- sturdy gloves
- fresh water for three days
- non-perishable food for three days and a can opener
- toiletries
- waterproof bags
- portable radio
- essential medication
- first aid kit
- spare batteries for radio, torch and mobile phone.
What to pack in an evacuation kit
The Emergency Survival Kit List | Get Ready QLD webpage has detailed instructions for the creation of your evacuation kit.
The following items are essential:
- emergency plans
- emergency kit
- Cash (ATMs and banks may not be available)
- valuables and mementos
- sleeping bags
- pillows
- warm clothes
- towels
- kids toys and entertainment.
If you have a pet, and the evacuation location allows pets, you'll also need to pack:
- medications for up to two weeks, medical and vaccination records and vet details
- food and bottled water for each pet for up to two weeks plus can opener
- familiar bedding, toys and grooming equipment
- secure pet carrier and leash
- sanitation items such as newspaper, paper towel, disinfectant and rubbish bags
- details of identification methods
- a current photograph for identification purposes
- contact details for your vet, pet information and advisory services.
Step five - Stay informed
During an emergency you need to tune in, log on, listen and act. Assume all warnings are urgent and you need to act immediately on the information provided.
1. Tune in
- Tune your radio to your local ABC or commercial radio station frequency to listen for weather and warning updates. see our Emergency contacts and related links web page for frequencies.
- Turn your television on to your local station to watch and listen for warning updates,
2. Log on
3. Listen out
- Listen for local community safety announcements on radio and television.
- Listen for emergency services personnel who may door-knock your area.
- Listen for emergency alert voice messages to your landline and text messages to your mobile phone.
- Listen for the standard emergency warning signal used at the beginning of serious emergency warnings.
4. Act
- Ensure all household members are aware of emergency warnings and advice.
- Check on family, neighbours and friends who may need assistance.
- Locate and collect your emergency plan, emergency kit and evacuation kit.
- Activate your emergency plan.
- If you are visiting the region, contact your accommodation manager for evacuation options.
During a disaster you should:
- Check the Disaster Dashboard for local information
- listen to your ABC radio
- listen for the Standard Emergency Warning System (SEWS), which is a siren played on the radio or television for various emergencies
- act quickly on any advice given to ensure your family, pets and home are safe.
A list of emergency services contacts and related links is available for use during an emergency event.
Disaster Dashboard
In a disaster, you need up-to-date and accurate information. It provides real-time alerts, safety updates, and resources to help residents prepare, respond, and recover during disasters.
Our Disaster Dashboard provides up-to-date information about:
- road hazards and closures
- weather warnings
- power outages
- evacuation centres
- emergency news
- links to government and support agencies.
Open the Disaster Dashboard
Flood and traffic cameras
Access camera images by selecting the relevant checkbox on the map on the Disaster Dashboard.
Open the Disaster Dashboard
Opt in notifications
Our Disaster Dashboard offers opt-in notifications which allow you to subscribe to the updates you want, including weather warnings and emergency news bulletins.
During a disaster, you may be required to evacuate your home to stay safe.
If authorities ask you to evacuate, we recommend staying with family or friends who live outside the affected area. If this is not possible, temporary short‑term accommodation may be available at an evacuation centre.
Please make separate arrangements for your pets, as evacuation centres may not be able to accommodate animals.
Information about open evacuation centres will be published on the Disaster Dashboard, our social media and shared with local radio and television stations.
If you evacuate your home, you can register online through the Register. Find. Reunite website. This helps family and friends locate you during an emergency. The website is only activated when disasters occur.
Before you leave
If you decide to evacuate, leave as early as possible and remember your evacuation kit. Continue to monitor warnings and follow advice from emergency authorities.
Do not return home until authorities confirm it is safe and you can access your property safely.
Register. Find. Reunite website - National Registration and Inquiry System
The National Registration and Inquiry System (NRIS) helps register, locate and reunite people after an emergency. The system is managed by the Australian Red Cross. To access it, visit the Register. Find. Reunite website.
- Register lets people know you are safe
- Find helps you search for people affected by an emergency
- Reunite allows approved information sharing to reconnect family, friends and loved ones
People who have been evacuated, or who are trying to locate family or friends, can also contact the Red Cross Inquiry Centre on 1800 727 007.
Directly after a disaster, make sure you:
1. Ensure safety
Make sure you and the people with you are safe by following these guidelines:
- Do not return home until advised by authorities and use the recommended route.
- Be cautious when going outside.
- Watch for displaced wildlife such as snakes.
- Watch for downed powerlines, which may be hidden in debris.
- If you find downed powerlines treat them as live, keep people clear and notify Ergon Energy.
- If your house has been damaged, ensure everyone is safe, stay clear and call for emergency services assistance. See our Emergency contacts and related links webpage for relevant contact details.
2. Remain calm
Take the following steps to control your fears, emotions and actions:
- Stop what you are doing and take some slow, deep breaths.
- Talk about your feelings calmly with family.
- Focus on the practical tasks you can do to be prepared and stay safe.
- Explain events to children, reassure them and let them help.
- Talk about the experience with others after danger has passed.
- If feelings of distress continue for an extended period contact your doctor.
Recovery after a disaster
While disasters can’t always be prevented, understanding their impacts can help you manage recovery and reduce stress. Everyone’s experience is different — some people recover quickly, while others may need more time to feel that life has returned to normal.
Recovery takes time. It’s common for the effects of a disaster to affect both your body and mind weeks or even months later.
Taking care of yourself is an important step in recovery. Seek support from family, friends and your community, and allow others to help as you rebuild and move forward.
Information about volunteering, donating and available support services is available on our Disaster support: donate, volunteer or find support webpage.
Localised or flash flooding can occur after torrential rain causing drainage systems to reach capacity and overflow quickly.
How to prepare for a rain and flood event
- Use the flood risk information portal to find your property's flood risk level.
- Ensure you follow our five preparation steps to prepare for an emergency situation.
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Understand usage of Flood early warning system, community alert sirens and phone alerts.
How to protect your home during a rain and flood event
- Tie down or remove loose items in your yard or under your house.
- Identify household items that need to be raised or emptied e.g. electrical appliances and cupboards.
- Protect items of value by enclosing them in waterproof covers.
- Ensure all chemicals that may react with water are stored in waterproof containers and moved to a higher level.
- Disconnect gas cylinders and gas bottles and tie them down or move them to a higher level.
- Clean gutters and downpipes of debris, trim back overhanging branches from your house, and clean drains.
How to stay informed during a rain and flood event
Follow our listof radio stations, websites and tv stations to stay up-to-date.
Severe storms are often unpredictable and can occur at any time, involving lightning, thunder, hail, wind gusts and flash flooding. These storms can cause major damage to property, injury and loss of life.
How to prepare for storm season
How to stay safe during a storm
If you are outside:
- Avoid taking shelter under trees or in open structures such as gazebos.
- Take shelter in an enclosed vehicle or solid building.
- If there is no shelter available, crouch on your own with your feet together and avoid being the tallest object in the area.
- Stay out of water including creeks and swimming pools.
- Do not travel in open vehicles, ride bicycles or horses.
- If you are travelling in a vehicle, slow down, turn on hazard lights and park undercover away from trees and powerlines.
If you are inside:
- Stay away from windows, doors and skylights.
- Shelter in the safest place in the building.
- Avoid using electrical appliances.
- Use the radio to listen for warnings, updates and advice.
- Disconnect external aerials and electrical appliances.
- Draw all curtains and keep clear of metal and electrical fixtures like pipes or landline telephones.
- Avoid touching brick and concrete or standing barefoot on concrete or tiled floors.
How to stay informed during a storm
- Follow our list of radio stations, websites and tv stations to stay up-to-date.
- Stay up to date with emergency news on the Disaster Dashboard, and weather warnings issued by the BoM.
After the storm has passed
- Always wait for storm activity to pass completely before going outdoors.
- Check the building and yard for damage. Stay away from fallen powerlines. Report all fallen powerlines to Ergon on 13 22 96.
- Check on neighbours but do not go sightseeing.
Bushfires are fuelled by vegetation, are unpredictable in nature and can quickly change direction with wind conditions. Any areas that are close enough to be affected by burning material, embers and smoke can be threatened by bushfires, potentially causing major damage to property, injury and loss of life.
While bushfires can be a risk at any time of year, the heightened risk period for bushfire is from August to November and sometimes through until March.
How to prepare for bushfire season
- It is your responsibility to be familiar with official bushfire warning levels, alerts and fire danger ratings. Access this information via:
2. Ensure you follow our five preparation steps to prepare for an emergency situation.
How to protect your property for bushfire season
- Check your roof and repair loose tiles, eaves and screws.
- Clean gutters and downpipes.
- Trim greenery.
- Ensure your insurance is up to date.
- Purchase food and water supplies.
- Reduce bushfire fuel around your property by grading or burning a fire-break and keeping grass and leaf litter at a minimum.
- Hazard reduction burns can be an effective way to prepare your property for bushfire season. Before undertaking a hazard reduction burn, a permit must be obtained from your local warden.
- Plant a wind break.
- Implement fire mitigation measures such as enclosing eaves, fitting wire screens to doors, windows and vents, enclosing under-floor areas and moving wood and fuel away from buildings.
- Fit outdoor taps and long hoses in strategic places.
- Install roof sprinklers.
- Ensure LPG safety valves face away from buildings.
- Ensure easy and safe access for fire fighting vehicles.
Ways to avoid starting a fire
- Ensure machinery is well serviced and do not operate machinery which may create sparks in dry grassed areas (for example: grinding/welding equipment).
- Do not discard cigarette butts.
- Extinguish campfires with water.
- Coals must be cool to the touch.
- Landholders need to slash fire breaks and ensure firefighting equipment is available.
- Remove vegetation from around structures.
How to stay informed during a bushfire
Follow our list of radio stations, websites and tv stations to stay up-to-date.
Returning home after a bushfire
Cleaning up your property can be a daunting task after a bushfire and it's important that you know how to do it safely. Please read the bushfire fact sheets provided by the Queensland Government for detailed information on cleaning up your property safely and looking after yourself, and your family's health.
Our region can be affected by heatwaves, which are at least 3 days of unusually hot maximum and minimum temperatures. A run of unusually high night and daytime temperatures can:
- lead to heat-related illness, a critical factor in human health
- affect infrastructure such as public transport and electricity supply.
Queensland Health are the lead agency for responding to heatwaves.
How to prepare and deal with a heatwave
Before and during a heatwave you should:
- check your air-conditioner and fans are in working order
- plan to spend time in a cool place eg. shopping centre or library
- stay out of the heat
- drink lots of water
- dress in loose fitting, cool clothing
- check on the elderly and neighbours who could be at risk during the heat.
Learn more on the Queensland Government website.
How to stay informed during a heatwave
You can stay up to date with heatwave warnings by listening to information issued on television, radio or by visiting the below websites:
An earthquake can strike without warning and vary in severity. Warning signs that may indicate an earthquake is imminent can include:
- erratic animal behaviours such as scared or confused pets
- sudden water level changes in wells or artesian bores.
How to prepare for an earthquake
There's no warning for when an earthquake will happen. General preparedness, such as having an emergency and evacuation kit ready, will help you after an earthquake impacts. Follow our five preparation steps.
How to stay safe during an earthquake
Inside during an earthquake
- Keep clear of windows, chimneys and overhead fittings.
- Shelter under and hold onto a strong door frame, table or bench.
- In high rise buildings, keep clear of windows and outer walls and shelter under a desk near a pillar or internal wall.
- Do not use elevators.
- In crowded buildings, do not rush for doors but move clear of overhead fittings and shelves.
Outside during an earthquake
- Keep clear of buildings, overhead structures, bridges, powerlines and trees.
- If you are on a city street, shelter from falling debris under strong archways or building doorways.
- Do not go under awnings as they may collapse.
In a vehicle during an earthquake
- Stop in an open area until the shaking stops.
- Beware of downed powerlines and road damage, including overpasses and bridges.
- Listen to your car radio for warnings before moving.
How to stay informed during an earthquake
Follow our list of radio stations, websites and tv stations to stay up-to-date.
A health epidemic occurs when an infectious disease spreads rapidly to many people in a given population within a short period of time.
If a health epidemic occurs and you suspect you may be ill, phone 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or your doctor before visiting a health facility, to discuss your symptoms and get advice on whether a medical examination or further actions may be necessary.
Learn more on the Queensland Health website.
How to reduce the risk of a health epidemic
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Wash your hands and bathe regularly with soap and water.
- Wash your hands prior to touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Properly dispose of garbage and food items.
- Keep your house clean.
- Ensure pets are kept away from your house and living areas.
- Keep up-to-date with vaccinations.
- Determine whether you are in the ‘at risk’ category, which includes children, aged individuals, those who have a low immune system or those who work in close proximity with others such as a nurse or childcare worker and put protective actions in place to prevent the spread of illness between individuals.
To contact SES Queensland, call 132 500, lodge a request online or download the SES assistance app.
The SES is a volunteer organisation that assists Queensland communities in times of emergency and disaster. Each year the SES receives thousands of calls for assistance. SES volunteers care about their communities and are not paid for the work that they do.
For details regarding SES visit the SES website.
When to call the SES during an emergency
Severe weather events can mean the demand on SES is high and can lead to long wait times when requesting assistance. SES volunteers may undertake temporary emergency measures to make your home safe. They attend requests for assistance based on priority. They are volunteers and will respond as soon as possible, however, if at any time your situation becomes life-threatening, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
You can call the SES for assistance during a severe weather event when:
- your roof is damaged or leaking
- a tree has fallen and caused structural damage or is blocking access to your home
- your home is flooded or about to flood and you need emergency sandbagging.
It is important that you contact either your insurance company or private contractor to make permanent repairs or to remove any remaining debris.
Local SES groups
Eight SES groups currently operate within our region; located at Clifton, Cecil Plains, Crows Nest, Goombungee, Millmerran, Oakey, Toowoomba and Yarraman.
SES assistance app
An SES assistance app is now available on Apple and Android devices via iTunes and Google Play for Queenslanders to use during and after a natural disaster. The app allows customers to skip the call centre queue. Using the app does not mean your request for assistance will be attended to any sooner.
The user is provided with a reference number after lodging the request and a record of the request is also available. Users can update their information by calling the contact centre on 132 500 and providing the reference number.
Residents can also lodge their request for SES assistance via the SES website.
Sandbags can reduce the impact of flooding if they’re placed in appropriate locations around your home or business.
Where to find sandbags
You should buy or prepare your own sandbags before a disaster or emergency. Sandbags can be purchased at major hardware stores, landscape suppliers and other retailers. Self-inflating sandbags are a ready-to-use, light weight alternative that don’t require filling. They will self-inflate when they come into contact with water and can be stored a longer time than hessian sandbags. Consider digging a trench to divert water as an alternative for overland flow.
If heavy rain and flooding are imminent, Council may provide sand at nominated locations. You will be required to fill your own sandbags. Check on your family, friends and neighbours to see if they need assistance with sandbagging. SES may be able to assist for imminent flooding but taking proactive steps to be prepared is preferred.
How to use sandbags
Sandbag walls are not waterproof and will not stop the water completely. You can use plastic sheeting with sandbags to reduce the amount of water entering. When sandbagging, don't forget to allow for use of the doors and leave space for opening and closing them within the wall.
For information on using sandbags, visit DIY Using sandbags to protect your home | State Emergency Service.
If a disaster impacts your community, it’s essential to have plans in place to protect your business, assets, and employees, and to keep operations running so you can recover quickly. Business continuity planning helps you prepare for and manage disruptions by creating a practical strategy for how your business will respond during and after a crisis.
A strong continuity plan will help you:
- identify and reduce risks where possible
- prepare for risks you cannot control
- respond effectively and recover if an incident occurs.
Start your business continuity plan.