Townsville floods: Townsville Mayor, Queensland Premier, emergency services and Bureau update community on disaster
Mayor Jenny Hill, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, local and state police, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service and the Bureau of Meteorology have provided updates on Townsville’s flooding crisis.
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Mayor Jenny Hill, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, local and state police, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service and the Bureau of Meteorology have provided updates on Townsville’s flooding crisis.
Mayor Jenny Hill said around 100 homes had been evacuated, with residents to be provided with further information and alerts as the situation progresses.
As of 1.30pm, the Queensland Police Service and Australian Defence Force Personnel will be door knocking homes in Oonoonba, Idalia, Rosslea, Hermit Park, Railway Estate, South Townsville, Cluden, Townsville City and some areas in Hyde Park to warn residents of potential flooding risks.
“Today we’ve seen significant rain in our Northern suburbs, we’ve had to push out a number of emergency alerts,” she said.
“What it seems to be doing is literally dumping heavy volumes of rain in small spots and causing issues with flash flooding.
“Last night we took the deliberate steps to open the spillway floodgates a bit more. In doing that, it’s given us a certain amount of redundancy in the dam, and it’s a bit of a watch-and-see what happens in the next 12 hours.”
Raging #RossRiver #Townsville at #BlackWeir #TownsvilleFloods2019 #northqueensland pic.twitter.com/ZAeWInlhqt
— Rabin Tuladhar (@rabintuladhar) February 2, 2019
Cr Hill said the Ross River Dam gates were being operated manually and further opening of the gates would depend on how much rain fell over the catchment in coming hours and days.
“The dam is doing its job and the dam is safe,” she said.
“The integrity of the dam should not be called into question.
“We are going to make sure we operate that dam properly.”
Cr Hill said Council had provided tens of thousands of sandbags to protect homes as much as possible.
“I want to thank members of the Townsville community who have come out to assist to fill bags with sand for the elderly and for their neighbours,” she said.
“We will get through this event.”
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill says the Ross River Dam is doing its job. But flash flooding will continue. @abcbrisbane pic.twitter.com/24EEpOEEPn
— Allyson Horn (@allysonhorn) February 2, 2019
Cr Hill urged residents to put their safety first while flash flood warnings are still in place and not take unnecessary risks on the roads or play in floodwaters.
“I know I talk about indoor board games, but I’m very serious. It might look like fun, but what happens if you get caught up is you tie up resources that we could be using in other areas of the city,” she said.
“QFES and police don’t want to be dealing with people doing stupid things at this time. Please act like adults, be responsible, stay indoors and if it’s flooded, forget it.”
Cr Hill said grocery resupplies were accessing the region through alternate routes, with supplies also to be transported to Ayr and Ingham.
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Chief Superintendent Steve Munro said it was important for residents to use the information available to them to make the safest choice about whether or not to leave their homes.
“You need to start thinking about what is best for you and your family,” he said.
Bureau of Meteorology State Manager Bruce Gunn said there were several more days to go in the current flood event.
“The trough is slow-moving, and that’s why we’re getting such big accumulations of rainfall,” he said.
“The risk is high for the next couple of days particularly, particularly in that Herbert and Lower Burdekin region including Townsville.
“We expect the peak of the rainfall to recur again tonight and continuing into next week.”
âš ï¸VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND LIKELY FLASH FLOODING affecting the Mt Margaret area to the WSW of Townsville on the Bohle river. 165mm in 3hrs observed. Updates: https://t.co/wOVse8Y2hP pic.twitter.com/jXjZFEIz05
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 1, 2019
Mr Gunn said the current five-day rainfall totals are the third-highest on record, behind 1998 and 1953, with significant records expected to be broken.
“There’s a good chance, because this event is going to continue for several days, that we’ll beat the ten-day record for Townsville which is a total of 925mm which was observed in 1953,” he said.
“Townsville is currently seeing a record flood height at Aplin Weir.”
The Qld Disaster Management Committee has met. The strong message to everyone in Townsville is please stay tuned to information and warnings from local authorities. This is a serious situation with several days to go.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) February 2, 2019
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke at a press conference in Brisbane this morning, and said the next 24 to 48 hours were crucial for Townsville residents the monsoon settles in.
“We have not been in this scenario before,” she said.
“There has been a lot of rain that has been falling especially over the Townsville catchment, and some of these levels are unprecedented.”
Premier Palaszuzuk urged people to listen to authorities, keep their radios on and put safety first.
“When we use the words unprecedented and uncharted, we use this for a reason,” she said.
“Especially in the Townsville region, if you don’t have to be out on the roads, don’t go out there. Do not go sightseeing.
“My main concern is the safety of the people living in the Townsville region.”
State Disaster Coordinator and Queensland Police Deputy Comissioner Bob Gee also urged people to listen to the advice of Townsville City Council and emergency services.
“The local leadership there (in Townsville) have been planning for three days. Plans are in place, it’s a really good, constructive plan,” he said.
“In Townsville, local messaging is crucial.
“If you’re told to move to higher ground or move to a place of safety, please do that.”
Deputy Comissioner Gee said there was “more than enough police” to help protect property if people moved from their homes.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Comissioner Katarina Carroll said 38 people had been rescued by QFES personnel over the past few days, with 80 people assisted in leaving their homes last night.
“We have been carrying out our damage assessments which have been difficult to finalise,” she said.
Originally published as Townsville floods: Townsville Mayor, Queensland Premier, emergency services and Bureau update community on disaster
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