Redland City residents are advised that a sandbagging station will be open today at Redland Showgrounds – Norm Price Park, via Long Street, Cleveland from 12 noon to 7pm.
Sandbagging stations will also be established at Redland City Council depots at Dunwich, Russell Island and Macleay Island.
Residents are urged to prepare now for severe weather conditions today and over the weekend.
The Redland City Disaster Management Plan provides practical information to help you prepare for, respond to and recover from a disaster.
Redland City Council advises residents that a severe weather warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts that a strong upper trough will move east into the southern interior of Queensland today, shifting into southeast Queensland on Saturday, before moving off the southern coast during Sunday.
A low pressure system will possibly develop and slip southwards over southern Queensland waters during Saturday, most likely moving offshore or into New South Wales late Saturday.
Heavy rain areas should start contracting southeast during Saturday morning as the trough shifts southwards, easing around Brisbane from mid-afternoon, and easing around the Gold Coast during Saturday evening.
Damaging winds, with peak gusts of around 90km/h, are possible in coastal areas and about the Scenic Rim near and south of the surface trough on Saturday.
The trough or low will also generate large swells as it slips southwards during Saturday, with dangerous surf conditions and significant beach erosion developing about exposed beaches between Fraser Island and the Gold Coast during Saturday morning, contracting southwards out of the Fraser Coast and Sunshine Coast waters during Saturday afternoon.
Water levels on the high tide are likely to exceed the highest tide of the year about exposed beaches between Fraser Island and the Gold Coast on Saturday and Sunday, particularly on the high tide Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Locally heavy falls are also possible today and early tomorrow over parts of the central and southern interior though are more likely to be associated with thunderstorms.
A Flood Watch is current for southeast Queensland from Fraser Island to the NSW-QLD border.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
- Move your car under cover or away from trees.
- Secure loose outdoor items.
- Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
- Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
- Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it’s flooded, forget it.
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
- Check your property regularly for erosion or inundation by sea water, and if necessary raise goods and electrical items.
- For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.
- Surf Life Saving Australia recommends that you stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas.
All Redland City residents are advised to:
- Tune into weather warnings on 612 ABC Brisbane and Bay FM 100.3
- Follow live updates on Council’s news site and follow Council’s Twitter and Facebook
- Keep up-to-date with Bureau of Meteorology weather warnings
- Access the Redland City Disaster Management Plan for practical information to help you prepare for, respond to and recover from a disaster.
- In life-threatening emergencies always call 000
- Follow the advice of local emergency services
- Drive to road conditions
- Don’t let children play in or around flood water.