Prepare

While we can’t control the weather, we can take steps to stay safe and reduce the impact of natural disasters.

Being prepared is one of the most important things you can do to protect your home, your family, and your community.

Why Prepare?

Living in the Cassowary Coast means we experience heavy rain, storms, floods, cyclones and the occasional bushfire. By getting ready before disaster strikes, you’ll be in a better position to:

Act quickly in an emergency
Stay connected and informed
Protect your property and belongings
Keep your family safe

Start with Get Ready Queensland

Get Ready Queensland is a statewide campaign to help all Queenslanders prepare for natural disasters. It’s packed with easy-to-follow tips, printable checklists, and simple actions you can take today.

Visit the Get Ready Queensland Website

What You Can Do Now

Here are some simple ways you can start preparing:

Make an Emergency Plan

Know where you’ll go if you need to evacuate
Agree on a safe meeting place with your family
Save emergency contacts in your phone

Pack an Emergency Kit

Include food, water, medication, torch, batteries, important documents, and pet supplies
Store it somewhere easy to grab in a hurry

Prepare Your Property

Clear gutters and drains
Trim trees near your home
Secure loose outdoor items
Check your home insurance covers damage from cyclones, floods and storms

Property Flood Mapping

FloodInform Report

Information supplied on this website, discover.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au, can be one of your first steps to becoming prepared

The flood maps show estimated areas of inundation for a range of possible flood events.

Flood analysis has been carried out using comprehensive computer modelling, carefully calibrated against records from actual flood events to ensure accuracy.

Through Council’s website, the community can access:

Mapping by location and street name
Aerial photography overlays
Available flood mapping for defined areas across the Cassowary Coast region

These resources are designed to help residents, businesses, and property owners better understand local flood risk and prepare for future events.

Cassowary Coast Disaster Dashboard

Do you know the best address to stay informed during a weather event?

The Cassowary Coast Disaster Dashboard brings important real time updates on:

Emergency news
Road conditions
Weather warnings
Power outages

All in one easy-to-use platform, helping you stay prepared and make informed decisions when it matters most.

Cassowary Coast Disaster Dashboard

Watch for Warnings

The Australian Warning System uses three clear warning levels with flood, storm, and cyclone icons to help you stay informed and act quickly:

YELLOW – ADVICE

ORANGE – WATCH AND ACT

RED – EMERGENCY WARNING

This is the highest level of warning. You are in danger and will need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.

Look out for these flood, storm, and cyclone icons alongside the warning levels to help you identify the type of hazard.

The Australian Warning System is consistent across the country, so you’ll know exactly what to do when you see a warning level. Stay prepared, stay safe, and stay informed this storm and cyclone season.

Cyclone

Stay Informed During Severe Weather

During floods, cyclones, or other emergencies, it’s important to stay up to date with accurate information. Here are key resources for the Cassowary Coast community:

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Updates: Check real-time warnings and forecasts for Queensland here.
Cassowary Coast Disaster Dashboard: View local incident updates, flood alerts, and emergency information at disaster.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au.
ABC Far North: Listen for live radio updates on 801AM or 106.7FM.
Road Conditions: Check current traffic conditions and closures at QLD Traffic or call 13 19 40.
Flood Preparedness: Learn how to prepare for floods and severe weather at Get Ready QLD.
SES Assistance: If you need help during a flood or storm, call 132 500 or use the SES Assistance QLD app.

Stay safe and make sure your family, pets, and property are prepared ahead of any severe weather events.

Get to Know Your Neighbour

In an emergency, the people closest to you are often your first line of support. Taking time now to introduce yourself to your neighbours can make a big difference if disaster strikes.

Share contact details
Check who might need extra help, like elderly residents or families with young children
Talk about how you can support each other during severe weather

Strong communities recover faster — start by saying hello today.

A Prepared Community is a Resilient Community

On the Cassowary Coast, we know the power of severe weather and natural disasters all too well. Many in our community have experienced the devastation of cyclones, floods, and storms firsthand.

By preparing early — from making a household emergency plan to checking on neighbours, we build a stronger, safer, and more resilient Cassowary Coast.