Townsville police defend decision not to make forced evacuations during flood

A high-ranking Townsville cop has defended the decision not to forcibly evacuate thousands of residents during the floods, as a major review finds residents failed to heed evacuation alerts.

Townsvulle during its flood event.

A HIGH-RANKING Townsville cop has defended the decision not to forcibly evacuate thousands of residents during the floods, as a major review finds residents failed to heed evacuation alerts.

Thousands of Townsville residents had to be evacuated from their homes during the catastrophic flooding in February, with many saved from their flooded homes by the SES, Defence personnel and the unofficial “Tinny Army”.

A major review into the event found many Townsville residents failed to heed evacuation alerts and warnings, prompting the need for assisted evacuations.

Acting Chief Superintendent Steve Munro, who was Townsville’s top cop during the event, said he made the decision not to forcibly evacuate “very early” after consulting with relevant authorities.

“I was always comfortable with that decision,” he said.

“The thought process was for starters, where do you put 20,000 people, you have ample time to prepare and the people are very resilient.

“It is very difficult to force people out when you are unsure of the exact water levels that could be anticipated.”

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The report revealed the decision to advise residents to self-evacuate was based on “intelligence developed utilising rain forecasts and flood models”.

Defence force amphibious vehicles, local council heavy trucks, Queensland Police, and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services helped evacuate residents.

A total of 65 lives were saved by swiftwater rescue crews.

Act Chief Supt Munro said some homes were doorknocked two or three times.

“There was some very strong public messaging from police and council and while a lot of people listened, some didn’t,” he said.

“Regardless of all the good planning put in place people often think it won’t happen to them.

“Unfortunately it did impact a number of people who probably weren’t as well prepared as they thought they would have been.”

Four hundred residents from affected suburbs were surveyed as part of the review and found that only 17 per cent of them had chosen to evacuate.

It is understood a majority of Townsville’s evacuees opted to stay with family, friends or neighbours while 5 per cent stayed at other places like motels or their workplace.

Of those surveyed, 9 per cent said they went to one of the five evacuation centres. A total of 2940 evacuees were assisted by the Red Cross and Salvation Army at the centres.

While those that went to evacuation centres spent an average of 2.5 nights there, those that were sheltered by family or friends stayed an average of 12.7 days.

Overall, evacuation centres were “well managed” by the Red Cross.

The review recommended evacuation centre plans needed to be revised to better manage vulnerable residents, the safe storage of medications and providing alternative arrangements for evacuees with additional needs, such as the elderly.

It also recommended that future disaster management plans consider evacuations of pets and alternative storage options for all identified risks, including floods.

Originally published as Townsville police defend decision not to make forced evacuations during flood