Are you ready? IT’S STORM SEASON

Above: In both storms and floods, items not secured can end up as flying and floating debris. Plan ahead to act on time It’s officially storm season, where of 31 March 2017 – the largest seen in many pets to limit your damages and losses in the event electrical thunderstorms can roll through locations across . It’s timely to of a storm or flood hitting your area. Talk your plan We want to be a resilient and ready with wind, thunder, lightning and even hail remember that this flood occurred from a through with your family and then put it on paper. community. We want to make sure on any given day. While the wettest of the relatively short storm event and a far greater And don’t forget to identify dry places where you that new residents understand the season normally comes after the New Year, flood is possible. can store belongings and clean up your yard, reality of living here. it can come anytime from October to May. The best safeguard against flood and storm is making sure that any item that can be thrown It’s more than eight months since the flood preparation. Plan now for you, your family and your around in a storm is put away or tied down. – EMERGENCY CONTACTS Identify your flood trigger As a ‘rule of thumb’ for most of So, what’s your flood trigger to: During the March 2017 flood the Tweed Shire, if 300mm of rain • lift your property from any emergency, it was clear many residents falls within 24 hours you should under-storey? had little understanding of how floods expect significant flooding. • move your vehicle? unfold in the shire or, even how they Remember, short bursts of much • pick the kids up from school? unfold in their neighbourhood. less rain can cause flash flooding, • evacuate/leave? New residents were more Police – Fire – Ambulance 000 particularly in the Hinterland and Different communities will vulnerable due to their lack of local www.police.nsw.gov.au low-lying residential areas of Tweed have different flood triggers. knowledge and flood experience. www.fire.nsw.gov.au Heads. Also, if you live in the lower- Even different people in the Remember, every flood is www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au lying areas of Tweed Heads, Chinderah same community may have different so you cannot rely solely and the Coastal Villages, it’s important different flood triggers depending on past experience. State Emergency Services 132 500 to understand that the worst flood will on their age, mobility, health, To identify your flood triggers, Flood – storm – emergency come when there is significant rain whether they have young children, check out the examples below to coupled with an ocean storm surge or the reliability of their vehicle and see if they might be relevant to www.ses.nsw.gov.au king tide. ther factors. your situation.

Bureau of Meteorology NSW road information Flood trigger Action www.bom.gov.au/nsw/forecasts www.livetraffic.com.au /northernrivers.shtml Move possessions from under storey or ground floor BoM releases a Moderate Flood Warning for Local road information to upper floor ABC Radio www.myroadinfo.com.au www.abc.net.au When Tumbulgum Gauge reaches 1.8m AHD and it’s still raining Move vehicle to high ground North Coast FM 94.5 Tweed Shire Council P 1300 659 994 P (02) 6670 2400 When it’s been wet for days and 300mm is predicted tomorrow in Move possessions from under storey or ground floor P 1800 818 326 (after hours) Gold Coast FM 91.7 the upper catchment to upper floor or raise stock P 1300 903 917 When Moderate Flooding is predictedEXAMPLE for Chinderah LeaveONLY and stay with a friend or relative If it’s flooded, FORGET IT. When Major Flooding is predicted for Murwillumbah Evacuate to a designated evacuation centre

Living and Loving the Tweed Caught off guard in March 2017 crossed the were caught off guard, including Council. Six on the coast was moderate and there was Coast north of Mackay as a Category 4 people lost their lives, hundreds were rendered no significant ocean storm surge or king tide system on 28 March 2017. Two days later homeless and thousands suffered significant coinciding with the flood peak, therefore Make your plan after weakening to a tropical low and property damage and loss. Tweed Heads and Chinderah were not as 1. Know where to go turning south, it brought heavy rain to severely affected as upstream areas. • a high and dry evacuation point close by that you northern . In the weeks This was such a swiftly The Rous catchment received some can get to quickly before, the Tweed had rain that caused changing flood – looking outside of the heaviest rainfall. Flood water heights • a friend or relative outside the area ‘below minor’ flooding, which meant the at what was actually happening in the lower Rous reached record levels with ground was already soaked and could not 7.5m AHD at Boat Harbour and 5.3m AHD 2. Know your risk absorb much of the additional rainfall. was necessary. We had to make at Kynnumboon. • look for the natural warning signs The rapid rise of the flood was notable, as our own decisions. – Outside of the Tweed Valley, there was • where past floods have come to on your property. was the final peak from the last burst of rain. widespread flooding in the Burringbar, Mooball Mark them for quick reference Within two hours on Thursday 30 March, the The highest water levels since river and areas after heavy rain. • how long your neighbourhood and/or property was Bureau of Meteorology warnings went from gauging began more than 100 years ago The heaviest rain recorded in the Tweed in isolated for in the biggest flood ‘minor to moderate’ flooding to ‘minor to major’ were recorded on the Tweed River at 24 hours fell at Couchy Creek, 747mm; • your local roads; what goes under water and when flooding, then three hours later ‘moderate to Murwillumbah (6.3m Australian Height Datum) Numinbah, 674mm; Chillingham, 663mm; • can you protect your property with sandbags major’ flooding. Many residents and businesses and Tumbulgum (4.0m AHD). Luckily, rainfall and, Eungella, 638mm. 3. Know who to call Tweed Heads • friend or family City of Gold Coat • local SES Fingal • 000 in a life-threatening situation

Banora Point Scenic Bilambil 4. Know your plan Rim Regional L All residents need to have a Home Emergency Terranora Kingscliff Plan. A template to guide you can be found on the State Emergency Service website at Tumbulgum www.seshomeemergencyplan.com.au. Also: • talk with your neighbours, especially the long-term Chillingham Condong locals, for local knowledge of your area Murwillumbah • know when you need to leave to pick up children Cabarita Beach from school and what routes you need to take Tweed stormwater catchments • know where to find out where the local evacuation Tyalgum O Eungella Hastings Point centre is located catchment • download these apps to your mobile device: Pottsville catchment –– www.bom.gov.au/app/ –– m.tweed.nsw.gov.au Uki Upper Tweed River catchment –– myroadinfo app Burringbar Lower Tweed River catchment –– http://m.livetraffic.rta.nsw.gov.au Mooball Coastal creeks catchment 5. Get your kit together Waterways At all times have: Kunghur Tweed Shire boundary Shire • a battery-powered radio tuned to ABC North Coast Doon Doon Surrounding LGAs FM 94.5 (your emergency channel) • a battery-powered torch 0 2 4 Km N Lismore City • spare batteries • containers for drinking water Above: The catchments of Tweed Shire. • candles and waterproof matches • a first aid kit • a waterproof bag for valuables Nature’s signals are the first warnings If you are likely to be safe at home but cut off for days: • food for several days As we are now in storm season, it’s a moving to higher ground; rising creeks • medications … we need to be masters good idea to understand what warnings and . If your home is likely to be flooded and you need to leave: of our own destiny. If you you will get of a flood. Then, there are official warnings. The • cash (ATMs go down) aren’t on one of the seven The first warnings of a flood you should Bureau of Meteorology issues flood warnings • important documents, including insurance policy, hills you are in a floodplain. look for are the natural warning signs. These and flood watches, severe thunderstorm contact numbers/photos signs would include rain for many hours; warnings and severe weather warnings, while • medications/scripts – Murwillumbah pooling and ponding water; rushing roadside NSW SES issues flood bulletins, evacuation • shoes/clothes gutters; dry watercourses running; livestock warnings and evacuation orders. The scope of the BoM’s agreed flood- 6. Check your insurance warning service does not include warnings The insurance industry in defines flooding as: Historical river heights for local overland and/or rapid onset creek The covering of normally dry land by water that has There are a number of river gauges throughout Tweed Shire which measure the flooding. This is particularly relevant for the escaped or been released from the normal confines of: depth of the rivers at all times. Since records began, maximum heights of the Tweed Shire, given the multitude of creeks • any lake, or any river, creek or other natural rivers at gauge locations are: that run down its valleys. watercourse, whether or not altered or modified; or The natural warning signs in your area • Town/village Metres When any reservoir, canal, or dam. may be your flood trigger. Residents should All new home and contents insurance policies in Uki 12.9 2017 not wait for official warnings if the natural Australia include flood cover, however many choose Tyalgum 11.0 1989 warning signs tell you to ‘go’. to opt out of flood cover, exclude flood from business Chillingham 6.8* 2017 Again, the SES website at www.ses.nsw. policies or choose not to insure at all. Cover for Murwillumbah 6.3 2017 gov.au has a lot of valuable information on stormwater will not generally extend to include flood Tumbulgum 4.0 2017 warnings and what they mean. For those events. Policy holders should understand the difference Chinderah 2.9 1954 who want an in-depth understanding of flood and upgrade their policy if flood cover is required. If an behaviours in the shire, Council’s Tweed initial quote is too expensive, shop around. For more Tweed Heads 2.2 1954 Valley and Coastal Creeks flood studies and information, see http://understandinsurance.com. *Chillingham Gauge has moved. New readings do not correlate with historic levels. associated risk management plans can be au/types-of-insurance/flood-insurance. found at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Flooding.

Living and Loving the Tweed Building flood resilient homes

Council has adopted the 1% AEP (1:100 Annual Note that the fully enclosed part of any under-floor area Exceedance Probability) flood as the design standard is limited to 50 square metres, including any stairway to Flood construction notes for most kinds of residential buildings. the upper habitable storey. This restriction on complete In new subdivisions, such as on the Tweed Coast or enclosures means there are adequate openings (which can 1. Ground floor timber stud walls to be H3 treated and lined with cement around , this is the minimum level that each be slatted or decoratively screened for security) for flood sheeting screw fixed only with lower edge terminating 300mm above top house block is required to be filled to. Floor levels in the flows to pass through each property with limited damage to of bottom plate to allow free draining of flood water with deep skirting to habitable part of the dwelling (living rooms, bedrooms, that property. cover gap. At least one 20mm hole to be drilled in each noggin to allow kitchens etc) need to be built 0.5m above this level. If you want to find out the flood levels that apply to your frame to drain. In areas where filling is not allowed or is impractical, property, look at our online mapping at www.tweed.nsw. 2. Slab for water tank and gas cylinders to be homogenous with ground slab raised pole houses are constructed. You will see these gov.au/Mapping and check your s149 planning certificate to provide a flood anchorage base. types of homes in South Tweed, Tumbulgum, Condong, (you should have got one of these through the property 3. All general power outlets to be a minimum of 2.0m above ground slab. and Chinderah. Again, the habitable purchase process with your solicitor) or contact Council. 4. All light switches to be a minimum of 1.5m above ground slab. floor level needs to be at least 0.5m above the 1% AEP Properties that comply with the building code are the 5. Electrical meter box to be positioned on external wall above known flood level. most flood-resilient. Communities that comply with the flood heights. Areas below the habitable floor level need to be built building code are the most flood-resilient. 6. Habitable flood level to be at or above Council’s minimum requirement for to structurally sound flood standards. The floor plan for For more information on building in flood prone areas, see the area. the under-storey shown on this page outlines the simple www.abcb.gov.au/Resources/Publications/Education- building techniques you can use to make your house more Training/Construction-of-Buildings-in-Flood-Hazard- flood resilient and easier to dry and clean after a flood. Areas. For information on hazards to watch for when This floor plan is for a house in Tumbulgum, which was returning to a flood-damaged property and tips on how to cleaned and fully functional again by 3pm the day after the clean up and salvage damaged items, see www.tweed.nsw. 31 March 2017 flood. gov.au/Flooding.

Elect.

Gas

South elevation

Secure flood openings with 65 per cent openness – H3 treated timber fixed to galvanised supports. Easy wash out under.

Gas Elect.

Water tank strapped down Electrical meter elevated above to slab, which is poured and flood level (access platform under reinforced into main slab. not yet fitted). Gas cylinders on Non-habitable space Garage slab poured with main slab and chained down. Core-filled besser block ground wall for flood flow resistance and easy clean.

Laundry

T WM

3000L Water

Power points at 2.0m above ground floor Stairs constructed using H3 treated timber Removable skirting board allows framework to be flushed clean of silt. level and light switches at 1.2m high. Light and marine ply with lowest riser cover Timber framework below flood level is H3 treated timbers for water and power circuits on the ground floor are on removable to allow underside of stair to resistance and noggins above have holes drilled in them to allow the frame separate circuits from the upper level which be flushed easily. The wide internal stairs to easily drain. The wall lining is cement sheet for water resistance. White allows the ground floor to be switched off as allow the easy move of belongings upstairs walls were easily cleaned the day after flood waters receded using a flooding approaches. as the flood advances. product like 30 Seconds and then pressure cleaned.

Living and Loving the Tweed Tune in when Volunteer to help it’s happening

In an unfolding event, get up-to- date information by listening to the official emergency channel, ABC NSW SES has unveiled new North Coast 94.5 FM or ABC Gold opportunities for residents to Coast 91.7 FM. volunteer to help build greater Your local radio station may have community resilience in severe some information but is not an official weather, such as floods and storms. emergency broadcaster. The new initiative, ‘Volunteering Log on to: Reimagined’, has been launched • Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and allows more flexibility as well website – this is the official weather as different options for people to get watcher and forecaster and it issues involved with the Service. As part of severe thunderstorm warnings, severe this new initiative, SES has introduced weather warnings, flood watches and three new categories of volunteering flood warnings. Go towww.bom.gov.au in addition to the existing core unit • NSW SES website for flood bulletins, membership. These new categories are: evacuation warnings and orders. The 1. Community Action Team (CAT) SES is the lead agency in emergencies. Above: Holstons Lane in South Murwillumbah shows the damage a flood can wreak on both residential houses members – A group of community They tell you when to ‘prepare to go’ and businesses. members who come up with a local and ‘to go’, but don’t expect them to plan or set of actions that can help be there to get you out because by them prepare and respond to a flood that time it may be too late. Go to Council mitigates flood risk or storm emergency. Several Tweed www.ses.nsw.gov.au Shire communities have looked at • MyRoadInfo website for road Council is responsible for floodplain risk Flood modelling proved accurate developing a CAT for their area. These closures – all councils in the Northern management in the Tweed Valleys and Coastal Creek The March 2017 flood essentially did what Council’s include: Chinderah/Fingal Head, Rivers Region put their roadworks and catchments and has prepared a range of studies and flood-modelling predicted it would do when this Murwillumbah, Burringbar/Mooball, road closure information on this site. plans. These studies help shape our flood-related volume of rain falls within this period of time. The Tyalgum. More initial meetings are During an unfolding flood, the data development controls, such as setting rules for the event approximated a 1% AEP (Annual Exceedance being planned can lag due to the need to verify rezoning of land, considering the cumulative impact Probability) flood in many locations. 2. Corporate volunteers – Employees information before publishing it or of filling, designing evacuation capabilities into The observed flood behaviour was consistent with of a partner organisation or business lack of access to certain areas. Go to subdivision design and major land releases. Council’s floodplain risk management studies for the who can volunteer their help in an www.myroadinfo.com.au Council also is responsible for ensuring compliance to Tweed Valley and Coastal Creeks floodplains of the past emergency, and There are two reference gauges current building standards and codes and providing suitable 13 years. These studies will be reviewed using actual 3. Spontaneous volunteers – People used by BoM and the SES for flood land to accommodate SES services. data from the March 2017 flood to ensure the modelling who want to volunteer their help during warnings, namely: Council is responsible for closing local roads (not the remains accurate. and after an event with no ongoing 1. Murwillumbah Gauge (located Pacific Highway). Roads are closed when there is water commitment. in front of the Murwillumbah Civic over them and they are deemed unsafe or when directed The dam makes no difference For more information on the different Centre), and by the Police or SES. Council updates its information on the Clarrie Hall Dam is not a flood mitigation dam. As volunteering options or to join or initiate 2. Barneys Point Gauge (located on MyRoadInfo site as it becomes available. soon as Clarrie Hall Dam fills, water is released your own local CAT group, please go to the old highway bridge abutment in The Tweed Shire flood levee system is owned and via the spillway. As such, it makes no material www.ses.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/ Chinderah Village). maintained by Council. difference to any flood event. volunteer. When do the levees overtop?

Murwillumbah levees

Dorothy–William Street Murwillumbah CBD South Tweed levee South Murwillumbah East Murwillumbah N N

Levees should never be considerved An important observation from the March approximately 6.3m AHD on the Murwillumbah Tweed Heads South Levee begins to overtop complete protection from flood. All 2017 flood is that had the intense rainfall Gauge or less if flooding in the Rous River at approximately 2.2m on the Barney’s Point Gauge of Tweed Shire’s flood levees will on Thursday night continued for as little as is heavier. Dorothy/William Street Levee or Dry Dock Gauge. eventually be overtopped when a big four hours more into Friday morning, the overtops at roughly 6.3m AHD on the While not levee protected areas, water will enough flood occurs. Murwillumbah CBD Levee would have overtopped Murwillumbah Gauge or less if flooding begin to flow over Riverside Drive in Tumbulgum While levees are designed to keep river water and completely filled the CBD area. in the Rous River is heavier. The South when the Tumbulgum Gauge reaches about 2.4m out, during a flood the drainage outlets will be Murwillumbah CBD Levee overtops Murwillumbah Levee is much lower and floodwaters will begin to enterChinderah , closed and the levee will act as a dam to keep at 6.3m AHD on the Murwillumbah Gauge. and begins to overtop at 4.8m on the over Chinderah Bay Drive, when the Barney’s Point local rainwater in. East Murwillumbah Levee overtops at Murwillumbah Gauge. Gauge reaches about 1.6m.

Living and Loving the Tweed