Other disaster risks

Natural disasters can strike suddenly. Knowing about natural hazards and risks that could affect your family and property will help you plan for disasters. Council supports Get Ready Queensland, a Queensland Government initiative offering preparedness advice for severe weather events.

Get ready now by accessing tailored information for residents and people with a disability, their family and carers and fact sheets translated into several languages.

Heatwaves

A heatwave is any long period of very hot weather. In Australia, heatwaves usually range from 37°C to 42°C. Go to the Bureau of Meteorology’s local weather forecast so you know if a heatwave is on the way, and keep an eye on the Queensland UV Index Forecast.

While the very young and the elderly are most at risk, anyone can be affected.

Storm surges

The risk of storm surge is the most dangerous hazard associated with cyclones and can cause flooding of low-lying coastal areas. Most cyclone-related deaths are from drowning in a storm surge or flood.

A storm surge is not the same as a tsunami, or tidal wave. A storm surge comes in like a rapidly rising tide, but it can be extremely dangerous and destructive.

Tsunamis

A tsunami is a series of powerful, fast-moving waves caused by an undersea earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide. Tsunamis can occur with very little warning — sometimes only minutes.

When you hear a tsunami warning, call 13 00 TSUNAMI (13 00 87 86 264) for current warning information.

Earthquakes

An earthquake is a shaking of the Earth's crust. They strike without warning and vary greatly in severity. Earthquakes can be caused by:

  • underground volcanic forces
  • the breaking of rock under the Earth's surface
  • a sudden movement along an existing fault line. 

Landslides

Landslides usually involve the movement of large amounts of earth, rock, sand or mud or any combination of these.

Landslides can be caused by earthquakes, volcanoes, soil saturation from rainfall or seepage, or by human activity (for example, vegetation removal or construction on steep terrain).

For more information on how to prepare and what to do if a disaster happens, visit the Queensland Government website.