Moreton Bay Storm Recovery Begins
Published 01 May 2015
Moreton Bay Regional Council has this morning begun a full damage assessment after Friday's extreme weather event which has left our community in shock.
Mayor Allan Sutherland said the northern areas of the Moreton Bay Region had been hit particularly hard with the terrible loss of three lives.
By any measure this was an extraordinary severe weather event and tragically it cost the lives of two adults and a child who were swept away by flood waters in their car at Caboolture," Mayor Sutherland said.
"Our thoughts are with their family and friends as police investigate the circumstances surrounding this terrible loss in our community."
Police reported two men also died, one at Burpengary and one at Caboolture.
The east coast low brought widespread flash flooding to the Moreton Bay Region with up to 277 mm of rain falling in the Caboolture area over three hours yesterday afternoon or equivalent to a one-in-2000 year event.
Up to 200 roads across the region were closed by flash flooding at the peak of the downpour with several local roads remaining closed this morning.
A list of road closures is available at www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/roadconditions
Council crews are this morning clearing debris from roads as flood waters recede.
"It's important for everybody's safety that motorists obey road closure signage and if it's flooded - forget it," the Mayor said.
"After the extraordinary wet weather event we've experienced it will take time for the road network to return to normal.
Potholes can be reported to council by using the MBRC Request app, council's website or the call centre on 3205 0555.
Beach areas are also being assessed for erosion after dangerous surf and damaging winds of up to 85 kilometres per hour.
Last night three evacuation centres were activated including Woodford, Strathpine and the Caboolture Hub for commuters affected by road and public transport closures.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services will be conducting rapid damage assessments in areas where properties may have been inundated.
"Thank you to the Moreton Bay Region SES who responded to more than 550 calls from residents mainly for assistance with tarpaulins, leaking roofs and sandbagging," Mayor Sutherland said.
"Our SES volunteers again proved to be the unsung heroes of our community."
Sporting grounds and council parks are at this stage closed until further notice.
This weekend's three day Urban Country Music Festival has been cancelled due to yesterday's severe weather.
"As Premier Palaszczuk said, this storm event was off the scale. It will take time for our community to recover and I ask residents for their patience, resilience and cooperation while the recovery effort is underway," Mayor Sutherland said.