Qld homeowners warned to start preparing for storm and cyclone season now

As Queensland braces for another cyclone season, experts urge homeowners to prepare, with alarming statistics revealing most households lack adequate disaster plans.

Rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston has kicked off a campaign to warn households across the state to prepare for the summer cyclone season.

Queensland homeowners risk having to file insurance claims and higher premiums if they do not act now to prepare for another severe summer cyclone season.

Startling new statistics from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority show 75 per cent of Queenslanders live directly in deadly storm pathways and yet an astonishing 80 per cent have no plans in place to cope.

Shockingly, while 80 per cent of Queenslanders believe they understand local disaster risks, only less than 20 per cent have an emergency plan, and less than half od households have an emergency kit at the ready.

In December, an estimated 20,000 people across the state lived without electricity or water for a week after storms on Christmas Eve and the following day.

Damage from fallen trees caused by the Christmas Day storm on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied.

Hundreds of thousands have faced significant disruptions from extreme weather in the past two years, with damage to roads and essential services, forcing 10 per cent of people to seek disaster relief.

The reconstruction authority joined forces with the state’s leading home insurer Suncorp and football legend Johnathan Thurston to sound the alarm as part of Get Ready Queensland Week, from October 8 to 13.

damage on Christmas Day from a storm on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied.

Residents from Cairns to Coolangatta, have been warned to “plan, prepare and protect” themselves ahead of the annual wild weather with the state already entering the critical summer danger period.

Suncorp chief executive consumer insurance Lisa Harrison urged Queenslanders to take advantage of the campaign and review their disaster plans and insurance coverage.

“We know how volatile this state’s weather can be, which is why we support the promotion of good disaster preparation practices that will help build our collective resilience and lessen the devastating impacts of disaster events,” she said.

The campaign includes a new online tool to help households set disaster goals and kicks off with events at Corinda State High School in Brisbane which had first-hand experience dealing with severe flooding in 2011 and 2022.

Cairns was swamped when Cyclone Jasper slammed into the state in December 2023. Picture The Courier-Mail.

Other events will be held on the Cairns Esplanade, which was gutted by Cyclone Jasper in December when a staggering 2.2 metres of rainfall was dumped on the city.

QRA chief Major General Jake Ellwood said over the past year, 66 of Queensland’s 77 local government areas were crushed by bushfire, cyclone, flood, or storm.

Cairns streets were flooded in December 2023. Picture: Supplied

“Living in Queensland means we simply cannot afford to be complacent about the effects of extreme weather,” Mr Ellwood said.

“Research shows people who are prepared for severe weather recover faster than those who rely solely on outside help.”

League legend Thurston will kick off the campaign and has already started promoting the slogan “weather doesn’t plan, but you can”.

Thurston said extreme weather had dire effects on everyday life including supply of electricity and clean water, going to the shops, travelling to work or school, and safety.

“Just as every member of a footy team trains hard to achieve success on game day, every Queenslander can take steps now to get ready for extreme weather,” he said.

“By understanding your own localised disaster risk, getting a severe weather plan together for your household, and packing an emergency kit, you can ensure you’re prepared for any sort of weather event.”

Fallen power lines and power poles caused major traffic hazards across multiple roads at Eagle Heights, Mt Tamborine after a massive storm swept through on Christmas night. Picture: Scott Powick

The Bureau of Meteorology also warned of the consequences of being unprepared and encouraging households to stay updated through the BOM Weather app and website and on the Cairns Disaster Dashboard which gives real-time updates on road closures, power outages, and weather warnings.