Disaster group shares key message ahead of predicted heavy rain, storms

Despite a reduction in predicted weather events expected for the Bundaberg Burnett, local councils and emergency services have shared one key message ahead of the Australia Day long weekend: if it’s flooded, forget it.

IF IT'S FLOODED FORGET IT: Bundaberg locals encouraged to be mindful of flash floods in the region ahead of the expected landfall of Cyclone Kirrily.

The Bundaberg Disaster Management Group came together with the Bundaberg and North Burnett councils to shore up emergency preparedness ahead of the expected landfall of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily on Thursday.

The group and its stakeholders have escalated the region to an “Alert” level, encouraging those across the Wide Bay Burnett to be mindful of weather predictions and quick changes in weather events.

Despite rainfall predictions from the Bureau of Meteorology shifting from up to a metre of rain to 100mm, locals have been encouraged to get prepared and take advantage of services.

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey encouraged residents to take advantage of upcoming free dump days, work with their neighbours to tidy up loose green waste, collect sandbags from emergency services for low lying areas and equip an emergency kit.

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to make landfall on Thursday night before becoming an inland rain depression and dumping large amounts of water across much of central and southern Queensland.

Residents are encouraged to have copies of birth certificates, drivers licences and key documents on hand, while also ensuring quick access to batteries, torches, portable phone charges, bottled water and a first aid kit.

“Be prepared and be informed, please go to the council dashboards as well as the Bureau of Meteorology to get clear and precise information” he said.

A key message shared by the mayor, which was echoed by Bundaberg Disaster Management Group chair and patrol inspector Grant Marcus was “if it’s flooded, forget it”.

“The most recent information would suggest is we are in for some good rain coming through, but nothing like what we were anticipating 48 hours ago,” Mr Marcus said.

“However, there are some suggestions of potential severe storms coming through over the next few days, which can lead to flash flooding.”

Mayor Jack Dempsey (left) and Bundaberg Disaster Management Group chair and patrol inspector Grant Marcus (right) are calling on the Bundaberg Burnett community to be mindful of the weather ahead of anticipated weather events.

“We have unfortunately lost lives from people driving through flooded roads, so what we say to people is the old saying, we repeat it over and over, ‘if it’s flooded, forget it’.”

Mr Marcus also encouraged those making the most of the Australia Day long weekend to be mindful of storms which typically hit in the afternoon, and be cautious on the water if taking part in water sports.

He also said weather forecasting was not an “exact science” and the intense rainfall which decimated the Bundaberg region in 2013 had not been predicted to be so catastrophic.

“What we do know is 2013 was a perfect example where the predictions were that it was not going to be as devastating as it ended up being,” he said.

“We know that the weather systems don't follow the scripts, they can change.”