Cyclone/Flood/Storm Surge

Community & Environment Disaster Management Local Disaster Management Plan Sub-Plan D – Cyclone/Flood/Storm Surge Overview: Cyclones are a regular natural occurrence in Northern Australia during the summer months and can occasionally impact the Bundaberg Local Government Area. Some of the more significant impacts, including torrential rainfall and flooding have been caused by the following systems: Cyclone Wanda – January 1974 Tropical Cyclone Fran - March 1992 Severe Tropical Cyclone Hamish – March 2009 Severe Tropical Cyclone Ului – March 2010 Tropical Cyclone Oswald – January 2013 Tropical Cyclone Oswald made landfall on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula near Kowanyama early on 22 January 2013. Oswald had little impact on its initial landfall, but the remnant low moved southwards and produced severe weather over nearly all of eastern Queensland during the following week. The resulting flood of record in the lower Burnett River catchment resulted in significant property damage (4,040 houses and 620 businesses) impacting more than 7,000 residents. Cyclones are erratic, making forecasting the time and location of landfall by the responsible authority extremely difficult. Cyclone tracking maps, provided by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), provide visual evidence to the members of the Local Disaster Management Group on the current location of a cyclone, as well as the projected progress of the cyclone over the next 24-48 hours. Cyclone categories which are outlined further in this documentation have varying effects from minor to catastrophic levels. Strong winds, flying debris, and heavy rains are the norm. Along with the subsequent risk of flooding, there is always the strong prospect of a storm surge along the coastal belt. The extent and size of the storm surge is dependent on the category rating of the cyclone, location of landfall and tidal conditions at landfall. Category Ratings: Tropical cyclone category system Category 1 (Tropical cyclone) Strongest winds are gales with typical gusts over open flat lands at 90-124kms/hr Category 2 (Tropical cyclone) Strongest winds are destructive with typical gusts over open flat lands at 125-164kms/hr Category 3 (Severe tropical cyclone) Strongest winds are very destructive with typical gusts over open flat lands at 165-224kms/hr Category 4 (Severe tropical cyclone) Strongest winds are very destructive with typical gusts over open flat lands at 225-279kms/hr Category 5 (Severe tropical cyclone) Strongest winds are very destructive with typical gusts over open flat lands of more than 280kms/hr Source: Bureau of Meteorology The risk of a tropical cyclone in the Bundaberg region is annually present. The basic disaster management principles of Prevention, Preparation, Response and Recovery should be undertaken well prior to the commencement of the storm and cyclone season acknowledged to commence on 01 November each year. Fundamental to the Local Disaster Management Plan (LDMP) is an ‘all hazards’ approach. As such, the following sections refer to and, where necessary build upon, the main plan. MP-4-035 Rev.1.1 19/01/21 P1 of 2 Community & Environment Disaster Management Activation: Activation will be in accordance with the principles of the activation levels outlined in Section 5 of the LDMP. Response: Response will be in accordance with Section 5 of the LDMP. It is crucial that the Chair, LDC, and DMO remain highly cognisant that the response is a multiagency approach and that all agencies must be participants in convened meetings or though other methods, e.g. teleconference / videoconference, liaison officers, etc. The safety of operational personnel is paramount and these staff should not be required to enter any danger zone until the cyclone has passed. Structures: For members of the LDMG it is important to remember that Building Codes of Australia and Australian Standards for wind loadings on buildings were updated in 1985 to incorporate provisions for reducing the consequences of tropical cyclones. Many of the buildings within the Bundaberg Local Government Area were constructed prior to the establishment of these modern building codes and it is thus likely that Category 4 or 5 cyclones would cause extensive structural damage to residential and commercial premises. Warning (Additional): The primary thrust within the warning networks via media messages should be to empower individuals and communities to respond appropriately to the threat in order to reduce the risk of death or injury, property loss or damage. MP-4-035 Rev.1.1 19/01/21 P2 of 2 .

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