Storm season – Prepare for a wet spring and summer
Storm Season Yard Preparation kicks off as residents urged to prepare for Wet spring and summer
With rain on the forecast over the coming months, Brisbane residents are being urged to remain vigilant and prepare their homes and businesses for severe weather.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the weather can be incredibly unpredictable, which became a reality for many residents when parts of The Gap and surrounding suburbs suffered catastrophic damage during a wild storm 12 years ago.
“We can’t control the weather and severe thunderstorms are inevitable, but we can be prepared and protect our homes and keep our loved ones safe,” Cr Schrinner said.
“This storm season the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a 70 per cent chance of La Niña, which typically results in above-average rainfall and more tropical cyclones.
“With our sub-tropical climate and local geography, our city is prone to experiencing extreme weather events such as The Gap mini-cyclone and the devastating hailstorm in November 2014, so we cannot be complacent.
“Now is the opportunity to prepare our families, pets and properties for whatever mother nature has in store this storm season,” Cr Schrinner said.
Storm Season Yard Preparation starts and Brisbane City Council will hold three free green waste drop-off weekends at its four Resource Recovery Centres to help residents who are cleaning up their homes ahead of storm season.
The free domestic green waste weekends will be held next weekend, 12 and 13 September and 19 and 20 September.
“Cleaning out gutters, cutting back trees and plants and removing debris from around the home not only limits damage to your own property, but also those around you.
“In November 2008 residents in The Gap, Upper Kedron and Ferny Grove were severely impacted by a wild storm that brought winds of up to 180km/h and up to 139mm in rainfall in a very short amount of time,” Cr Schrinner said.
More than 1000 Council staff immediately responded, along with 600 Australian Defence Force personnel and 100 personnel from other South East Queensland Councils in the wake of the storm.
“We’re lucky to call Brisbane home, but with our subtropical lifestyle comes an increased risk of severe weather like thunderstorms, flash flooding, high winds and extreme heat.
“If we get struck by a severe thunderstorm again, we have the resources to respond, but this does not mean we shouldn’t take preventative measures and do everything we can in the lead up to minimise potential storm damage.
“It’s up to residents to be familiar with the risks around their home or business, prepare their property and have an emergency plan in place which will limit damage, and most importantly keep everyone safe,” Cr Schrinner said.
Council has trimmed more than 42,000 trees so far this year and invested $3.5 million into the Brisbane SES so they can continue to keep our community safe.
Residents are also encouraged to sign up for Council’s free Early Warning Alert service by Weatherzone so they are notified of severe weather events near them.
Between September 2019 to March 2020 this service sent more than 3.6 million messages to residents.
Residents can get storm and bushfire ready by following these tips:
- Clean-up the yard, clean gutters and downpipes of leaf litter, and check the roof and skylights are in good condition.
- Secure loose items in your backyard or balcony.
- Prepare an emergency kit with a torch, portable radio, spare batteries, first aid kit, emergency contact numbers and insurance papers.
- Sign up to Council’s Early Warning Alert Service at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared
- Know your flood risk by checking Council’s Flood Awareness Maps and FloodWise Property Reports.
- If flooding is likely, store valuables up high.
Free green waste weekends
- All four Council Resource Recovery Centres are accepting free domestic green waste for recycling on the following dates this year:
- Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September
- Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September
- Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September.
- Acceptable green waste includes branches, grass clippings, loose bark, palm fronds, pruning from shrubs and trees and weeds.
- Outside of these dates, residents can use their waste vouchers or pay the disposal fee of $12.50 per car up to 500kg.
- Council Resource Recovery Centre Locations. Open daily 6.30am-5.45pm
- 1273 Nudgee Road, Nudgee Beach
- 360 Sherbrooke Road, Willawong
- 101 Upper Kedron Road, Ferny Grove
- 728 Tilley Road, Chandler (opposite the Sleeman Sports Complex)