Queensland storm causes $26 million worth of damage

MORE than 100 Queensland families have been left homeless after Friday’s super storm.

Assessing the damage: The Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visits properties in Deception Bay that were flooded last Friday. She is pictured with resident Kathy Shipley, who lost everything in the flood. Picture: Sarah Marshall

MORE than 100 Queensland homes have been rendered uninhabitable as a result of Friday’s super storm, which has racked up an insurance bill of $26 million.

Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller said 106 houses had been flooded to the point that they were not currently livable.

“That’s at this point in time,” she said.

“So there are 106 families who simply cannot back to live in their homes at this stage.”

“It could very well rise. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service is still conducting their rapid damage assessments at this point in time.”

Ms Miller said it was too early to tell how many of those homes would have to be rebuilt.

“Our first priority is to make sure that people are safe and that people have accommodation and that they have clothes, food, and their children are going back to school,” she said.

“It will be a couple of days, maybe even a few more than that, for us to work out whether or not they are able to go back into their homes.”

The Insurance Council of Australia said on Monday morning the insurance bill stood at $26 million.

About 7500 claims originating from last week’s torrential rain — now declared a catastrophe by the insurance body — had been lodged as of 10am.

It’s expected more will be filed in coming days from residents of southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, ICA chief executive Rob Whelan said.

Southeast’s extreme weather event

It came as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the flood safety message to drivers — “If it’s flooded, forget it” — wasn’t getting through.

The premier said the deaths of five people in three cars during last week’s extreme downpours in the state’s southeast could have been prevented.

“I am absolutely concerned,” she said on Monday.

“I believe that unfortunately there are sections of the community that believe that if they are in a Jeep or a Hilux ute it is safe for them to pass.”

She said the safety campaign needed to be enhanced to ensure more lives weren’t lost.

Residents are still mopping up after the freak storms.

The government has offered assistance to people in Deception Bay, where about 100 homes were damaged, as it investigates whether a new rail link’s construction exacerbated flooding in the area. Ms Palaszczuk has also raised the possibility the extreme conditions could be linked to climate change.

OVERNIGHT

Authorities will investigate whether Moreton Bay Rail Link works contributed to homes being flooded in Friday’s fatal downpour.

As Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk toured a flood-ravaged street in Deception Bay yesterday, some residents said recent development was to blame.

Leanne Lamont, 37, said her Major St home survived severe weather in 2009 and 2011, yet had flooded twice within the past three months.

Ms Palaszczuk promised a thorough investigation, saying she would be “horrified” if that was the case.

A spokeswoman for Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said she had instructed the director-general to investigate.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said he wanted to “get to the bottom” of the matter to prevent it happening again.

“We don’t know whether it was from the single deluge or if it was a problematic issue with some of the development down the road,” he said.

The relief effort swung into action yesterday, with people hauling mounds of unsalvageable furniture and possessions into rubbish skips.

Troy Eaton broke down when he first returned to his home: “I lost everything.”

While it is too early to put a dollar figure on the damage, Premier Palaszczuk has committed flood relief to Rothwell, Deception Bay and Mango Hill.

Residents living in 15 selected streets will receive immediate assistance from the State Government for emergency accommodation and essential household contents grants. Residents will be eligible for $180 per person or $900 per family.

The Moreton Bay Region emerged as the worst hit by Friday’s storm with Caboolture, Morayfield and Deception Bay experiencing extreme flooding in carparks, main roads and local parks.

Insurance companies have reported thousands of claims for homes and cars and expect that figure to grow today.