Redland City Council advises people along coastal areas and island communities to prepare now as Tropical Cyclone Alfred is going to cause a localised storm surge.
Storm surge is a rise in sea level over and above the normal tide levels because of a cyclone. Storm surge is a threat to life and property.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the QLD SES on 132 500 or download the SES Assistance QLD App. In life threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
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What are we expecting?
- The Bureau of Meteorology advises from Thursday 5 March 2025 the forecast case scenario indicates up to 0.5m above Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) across the open beaches. The realistic worst case scenario allows for a faster westward track with water levels exceeding HAT by 0.5 to 0.8m for open beaches.
- Waves and sea water will travel a long way inland and through coastal creeks and rivers. This can flood and damage buildings, wash away roads and cars, and damage bridges.
- Roads could be blocked by fallen trees, powerlines, or flood water from the cyclone.
- Power, water, phone, and sewerage services could stop working.
What you need to do:
- Prepare your home:
- Put chemicals and poisons up high to stop them polluting the water.
- Lift important things onto bed, tables, shelves or upstairs to protect them.
- Know how and be ready to turn off the power, solar, water and gas if you choose to leave.
- Move cars to high ground away from trees.
- If it’s flooded, forget it. Stay out of flood water.
- Decide if you, and the people you live with, will leave if floodwaters get close to your house. Move while it remains safe to do so.
- If you have children make sure they are with you or an adult you trust.
- Be prepared to have no power. Charge mobile phones and other electronic devices now.
- Use sandbags, or other household items, and block doors to stop water getting inside.
- Use sandbags, or other household bags filled with heavy items to block toilets, sinks and drains to stop sewerage backflow.
- Warn family, friends, and neighbours in the area. Help others if you can.
If you decide to leave early:
- Lift important things onto bed, tables, shelves or upstairs to protect them.
- Lift waste containers, chemicals, and poisons up high.
- Pack enough clothes, food, water, medicine, baby items (like nappies, formula) and pet food for three days. Plan not to have a fridge or microwave.
- Take your pets, mobile phone charger, battery-powered radio, torch, and valuables like photos, cash, and important documents (like identification, insurance, or banking records).
- Lock windows and doors.
- Go to a safe place, away from flooding. This could be with family or a friend outside of the storm surge zone.
If you find it hard to move quickly or have special or medical needs:
- Use your Person-Centred Emergency Plan (P-CEP) now if you have one.
- Make sure you have enough medicine for at least one week.
- If anyone in your house uses powered medical equipment, like a dialysis machine or ventilator, decide now where you will go in case you lose power.
- Call your support person or service to organise transport if you need to leave.
- Leaving early is safer than waiting.
If you are a tourist, visitor, camper or caravanner:
- Campers and caravanners should stow gear and be ready to leave.
- If you do not need to be in the warning area, leave now. Check road conditions and plan your route before you leave.
- Be ready to move if the situation gets worse.
For more information:
- Follow our local council disaster dashboard at disaster.redland.qld.gov.au, where you can also subscribe to Council’s free emergency messaging service, Redlands Coast Alerts.
- Check properties of interest to you on our Tropical Cyclone Alfred Flood Risk Map which clearly shows the anticipated potential storm surge and flood inundation at the following link https://redland.qld.gov.au/TCAlfredFloodRiskMap
- Follow Redland City Council on Facebook or Council’s news site at redlandscoasttoday.com.au.
- Listen to radio 612 ABC AM.
- For power outage information go to energex.com.au.
- Check the latest weather, warnings, rainfall, and river heights at the Bureau of Meteorology Queensland website.
- Check road closures at the QLD Traffic website or for phone service call 13 19 40.
