Stay at home as storm threat continues
Published 26 February 2022
Stay at home as storm threat continues
Now is not the time to become complacent, as the Bureau of Meteorology warns Moreton Bay could receive up to 150mm of rain over the next 24 hours.
Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery said while some conditions have eased slightly, heavy rainfall and potentially life-threatening flash flooding still pose a very real threat to the community.
“This wet weather event is already one of the biggest we’ve seen in decades, so I’m urging everyone to please be patient and stay at home until conditions have passed,” Mayor Flannery said.
“QFES has performed far too many swift water rescues across our region in the last 24 hours and required assistance from additional teams from the Brisbane region to maintain safety.
“Our Local Disaster Coordination Centre has responded to 134 registered incidents across the day, and we’ve had at least 300 properties suffer some level of impact from this weather event that we know of at this time.
“We’ve made significant effort to move people from these areas into evacuation centres.
“There are currently 130 evacuees at the six open Council evacuation centres at Woodford Memorial Hall, Dayboro Community Hall, Watson Park Convention Centre Dakabin, Bribie Island Recreation Hall and Beachmere Hub, with Council staff and Australian Red Cross, Salvation Army and SES also in action.
“The Caboolture centre is open but at capacity, with numbers surging, so we are moving those who come there for help to Watson Park, Dakabin.
“The region’s libraries are all being used as places of refuge during normal business hours, and people are being directed to evacuation centres at closing time. Dayboro Showgrounds is open as a place of refuge for those with access to caravans, vans or vehicles.
“There are currently roughly 200 road closures including key links like AJ Wyllie Bridge at Lawnton which is currently closed both ways due to dam waters being released upstream, and Youngs Crossing also remains closed.
“Council has not been able to install signage at all flooded locations due to access issues so drivers are reminded to exercise caution particularly at night with limited visibility.
“Parts of the Bruce Highway between Caboolture and Caloundra remain closed. There were 1200 cars stuck earlier but they have all been cleared.
“We’ve had unbelievable rainfall - 624mm at Mt Glorious in the last 24 hours alone, plus 315mm at Caboolture, 390mm at Mt Mee and 234mm at Redcliffe.
“Cancel all your appointments, cancel your dinner plans. Whatever you do don’t get on the roads unless it’s absolutely critical.
“If you can’t get home, stay with friends. If that’s not possible, get yourself to an evacuation centre or shelter in place until the weather has passed.
“There is plenty of speculation swirling around online, but please make sure that you use the BOM website as your go-to source for the latest and most accurate weather information.
“A quick trip might seem like a good idea at the time, but this situation is very unpredictable, and that decision could place your life at risk and the emergency services who are putting their lives on the line to save you.”
Below are links to important information:
Keep up to date with the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather warnings at bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/
Check road closures before travelling and remember: If it’s flooded, forget it!
www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Roads/Weather-Impacted-Roads
To find the sandbag station nearest to you visit:
Sandbags - Moreton Bay Regional Council
Local alerts and important information can be found on Council’s website: https://mbrc.link/disaster-portal.
IMPORTANTLY: Subscribe to our free MoretonAlert service to stay up to date on emergencies: mbrc.link/moreton-alert.