Due to Cyclone Alfred, a flood watch is in place for South-East Queensland (SEQ), with both the Noosa and Mary River likely to be affected, as well strong gale force winds are expected with abnormally high tides, hazardous surf, and severe beach erosion. Residents are urged to prepare, stay alert and and take necessary measures if required. 

Be Prepared: 

Get ready with your emergency plan, emergency kit and evacuation kit, and your property by heading to www.getready.qld.gov.au or Noosa Council’s Noosa Emergency Action Guide via www.flipsnack.com/BA657EAA9F7/noosa-council-emergency-action-guide-2023-2024/full-view.html. 

Ensure you are stocked up with essentials, including food, water, batteries, and enough essential 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. 

Ensure generators are functional and ready if needed.  

Fill your car with fuel or charge it. Park it under cover. Do not park under a tree.  

Put away or tie down outside items like furniture, gas bottles and play equipment. 

Empty gutters and trims trees where necessary.  

If your home is not safe plan to stay with a friend or family.  

If you are near the beach or a coastal waterway, a storm surge could cause flooding. Decide now to obtain sandbags, or where you will evacuate to in the event of flooding.  

Find out how to safely turn off power, solar, water and gas to your house and be ready to turn off if told to do so.  

Have emergency numbers handy – a list is available at www.sandybolton.com/disaster-emergency-relief-contacts. 

Make provisions for pets via www.getready.qld.gov.au/pets and for livestock via www.getready.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/ 

The State Emergency Service (SES) has public pick-up points to access free sand and bags for filling at the following locations. Make sure to bring your own shovel. 

  • Tewantin – Noosa District Sports Grounds & SES Shed (Goodwin St) 
  • Noosaville – Boat ramp, Gympie Terrace 
  • Cooroy – SES Shed (Emerald St) 
  • Pomona – SES Shed & Showgrounds 
  • Cooran – Pioneer Park & Fire Shed 
  • Kin Kin – Rural Fire Shed 
  • Boreen Point – SES Shed 
  • Cootharaba – Rural Fire Service 

Stay Alert: 

Ensure you are updated on local warnings through the Noosa Council Dashboard at https://disaster.noosa.qld.gov.au/ which includes emergency news, road conditions, power outages and weather warnings. 

See the Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings and Get Ready Queensland – www.getready.qld.gov.au/alerts-and-warnings/storm-flood-and-cyclone-warnings to view updates on current flood, weather and cyclone warnings. 

If the power goes out, stay tuned into ABC Radio Sunshine Coast on 95.3 FM for live updates and please remember to stock up on batteries so that you can continue to power your radio sets.  

For our boating community, check the Maritime Safety Queensland’s dashboard for warnings and general advice via www.qldmaritime.msq.qld.gov.au/.  

For information on school closures, visit https://closures.qld.edu.au/.   

Stay Safe: 

During a disaster, stay calm, follow your prepared emergency plans, stay updated via the Noosa Disaster Dashboard as well tune into Sunshine Coast ABC radio station. Follow instructions from authorities promptly including to evacuate. 

If outside, seek solid enclosed shelter.  

If driving, stop clear of trees, power lines and streams.  

If inside, stay clear of windows, doors and skylights and remain in the strongest part of your shelter/home.  

In the event of flood, avoid floodwaters and do not attempt to drive, walk or cycle through flooded areas. Always remember, if its flooded – forget it. 

Shelter in Place: 

One of the instructions you may be given in a cyclone or an emergency is to ‘shelter in place.’ This occurs at times during cyclones or when hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere.  

‘Shelter in place’ means selecting a small interior room, with no or few windows and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire home or office building.  

This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. This does not mean to go out to another shelter.  

If you are advised to ‘shelter in place’, follow these instructions:  

At home 

  • Close and lock all windows and exterior doors. 
  • If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains. 
  • Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems. 
  • Close the fireplace damper. 
  • Get your family disaster emergency kit and make sure the radio is working. 
  • Go to an above ground interior room without windows. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable. Some chemicals are heavier than air and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed. 
  • Bring your pets with you and be sure to bring additional food and water supplies for them. 
  • It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room you select. Call your emergency contact and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Mobile telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency. 
  • Seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room. Use duct tape and plastic sheeting as it is heavier than food wrap. 
  • Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community. 

In your vehicle 

  • If you are very close to home, your office, or a public building, go there immediately and go inside. Follow the ‘shelter in place’ recommendations for the place you pick described above. 
  • If you are unable to get to a home or to a building quickly and safely, then pull over to the side of the road. Stop your vehicle in the safest place possible. 
  • If it is sunny outside, it is preferable to stop under a bridge or in a shady spot, to avoid being overheated. 
  • Turn off the engine. Close windows and vents. 
  • If possible, seal the heating/air conditioning vents with duct tape. 
  • Listen to the radio regularly for updated advice and instructions. 
  • Stay where you are until you are told it is safe to get back on the road. Be aware that some roads may be closed or traffic detoured. Follow the directions of police. 

Do not run a petrol generator in the room in which you are sheltering as people have died in these circumstances from the fumes. 

Evacuation:  

When evacuations become necessary, you will be advised by the channels above, via media or other warning methods including sirens, SMS or telephone calls using the emergency alert system.  

Types of evacuation: 

  • Self-evacuation: No formal authority required, you can choose to self-evacuate at any time if you don’t feel safe. But please let someone know that you are evacuating and where you are going. 
  • Voluntary evacuation: The Local Disaster Management Group in consultation with the District Disaster Coordinator will ask people in a particular area to voluntarily evacuate.  
  • Directed Evacuation: You are ordered to ‘evacuate now’ by the authority of the District Disaster Coordinator. At this stage council will advise what evacuation centres will be opened.  

In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for Council to open one or more evacuation centres. The first sites to open during Alfred will be the Noosa Leisure Centre, and if required in the hinterland, the Cooroy Library, followed by additional centres if required.  

You cannot take alcohol or weapons to an evacuation centre however you can take domestic pets.  

Before going to an evacuation centre, you should seek refuge with family or friends.  

Evacuation centres should only be used if you have nowhere else to go. 

Evacuation centres are not ‘cyclone shelters’ and are not designed to protect against high winds or windborne debris.  

You will be requested to register when you enter an evacuation centre.  

On the Water 

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) is advising our boating community to prepare now for potential destructive winds, swell, rain, or riverine flooding.  

All smaller vessels should be moored at cyclone moorings or mangrove areas, and final preparations and tying off completed. 

As well, please review MSQ’s Extreme Weather Event Contingency Plan, monitor conditions and staying informed by watching the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), SEQWater Dam Levels, the Noosa Council Disaster Dashboard, the MSQ Dashboard for general boating warnings and advice, and by tuning in to VHF cannels 12, 13 and 16 where possible.  

For emergencies on water should still be reported via 000.  

For non-emergencies such as boats adrift, contact the local Noosa Coastguard on 5474 3695.  

When in doubt, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) can be contacted during business hours on 5373 2310 to help determine who can provide assistance. You can also report after hours maritime safety incidents via 07 3623 3900.  

After a Disaster 

If the event has been severe, the Local Disaster Management Group will establish a Recovery Committee to: 

  • ensure people’s wellbeing 
  • rebuild essential infrastructure 
  • help economic recovery 
  • rehabilitate the environment 

At a State level, the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers is the lead agency and their response includes deployment of the Community Recovery Ready Reserve workforce. Community response operations occur directly before, during or immediately after a disaster to: 

  • save lives 
  • reduce health impacts 
  • ensure public safety, and 
  • meet basic subsistence needs of the people affected. 

Further information on this is available at www.forgov.qld.gov.au/service-delivery-and-community-support/help-community-disaster-recovery/join/what-is-community-recovery  

Food Safety 

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support 

  • The Red Cross has published a series of resources to help people recover from the effects of disaster. 
  • Crisis support is available through organisations such as Lifeline on 13 11 14 or log onto the Lifeline website. 
  • If you need help finding emergency accommodation, call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 
  • Following an eligible disaster event the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and/or the State Disaster Relief Assistance (SDRA) may be activated to provide funding and support for our community, to be assessed for financial assistance following activation call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or access the portal via Disaster support and recovery | Community support | Queensland Government