Central Queensland wet weather to continue all week, SES warn people to prepare their homes

Central Queensland is under a flood watch warning as the state prepares for a big wet over the next few days. Here’s what you need to know.

Vanessa Jarrett

2 min read

May 11, 2022 - 10:07AM

Rockhampton

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Central Queensland is under a flood watch warning as the entire state braces for a wet next few days.

A flood warning summary was released by the Bureau of Meteorology at 7.45am on Wednesday, listing multiple rivers across the state.

Western and Central Queensland and the Central and North Tropical Queensland Coast are listed under flood watch.

Tuesday’s warning stated moderate to major flooding was likely for the CQ region as an “unreasonably moist north-easterly flow extending across Queensland is combining with a significant upper trough and associated trough over Central Australia”.

As a result, widespread heavy rainfall is expected.

The heavy rainfall is expected to last until around Friday, with more lighter rain over the weekend.

Rockhampton SES controller Eddie Cowie said rews had been deployed to critical areas where rivers and creeks were known to inundate certain areas.

Rockhampton crews have already been doing reconnaissance missions, supplies and assisting members to and from properties.

“We have had numerous phone calls from within the Central Queensland region, predominantly from homeowners that are trying to plan and prepare their homes for what could be quite a wet week,” Mr Cowie said.

“Requests for sand bags, requests from homeowners who might have roofs that have been damaged from previous events, crews securing roofs.”

Mr Cowie is encouraging people to plan for wet weather and access sandbags.

If you are able to get to sand piles, if you are able to fill your own sandbags, that is the first thing we would encourage you to do,” he said.

“To make sure you have got enough in palace, to ensure if that flash flooding does run into your home, you can do what you can to protect yourself.”

Rockhampton Regional Council has sand piles located across the region.

Residents will need to bring a shovel and sandbag.

Livingstone Shire Council is also urging residents to prepare, with up to 200mm forecast for the district.

Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group, Mayor Andy Ireland, said some locations could potentially receive their highest May rainfall on record.

“If it’s flooded, forget it. There’s no situation which warrants risking your life or others, by driving through flooded roads,” he said.

“Residents are reminded to keep up to date with road closures and emergency news via Council’s Disaster Dashboard: https://disaster.livingstone.qld.gov.au/ and follow the latest advice and warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology.”