Tropical Cyclone Alfred's estimated arrival is drawing closer and Brisbane police are continuing to ensure the community is prepared.
On Tuesday, March 4, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) pre-deployed officers to areas including the Moreton and Bay Island communities, to door knock and assist in preparations and any emergency response.
Yesterday, March 5, hundreds of Brisbane police door knocked in low-lying at-risk areas across mainland Brisbane, including Victoria Point, Nudgee Beach and Sandgate, advising people who wanted to stay with friends and family in a safer location, to do so as soon as possible.
Police also provided advice to residents who wished to stay, to ensure they have prepared their properties and have their emergency kits ready.
Today, police are conducting proactive patrols and continuing to ensure the community is prepared for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Your main resource for information should be your local council disaster dashboard. It is designed to be your hub for critical information about local road closures, alerts and warnings, sandbag locations and availability, places of refuge and evacuation centres.
Links to Brisbane Region disaster dashboards:
- Brisbane City Council: Disasters and emergencies | Brisbane City Council
- Redland City Council: Dashboard
If you are seeking additional information, it is important to engage with the following direct resources for accurate and up-to-date information on road closures, power outages and weather updates.
Road closures
- Website: Road Condition Information – QLDTraffic
Public transport
- Website: Translink and Queensland Rail
- Social: Translink and Queensland Rail
Power outages
- Website: Energex
- Social: Energex
Weather updates
- Website: Queensland Weather and Warnings
- Social: Bureau of Meteorology
School closures
- Website: Emergency education facility closures
- Social: Queensland Department of Education
Throughout the coming days you may receive emergency warnings via calls or texts from +61 444 444 444.
Emergency Alert text messages are sent to everyone within a certain geographical location during emergencies and disasters.
Police are reminding everyone not to block the Emergency Alert number and save it to your contacts.
These texts contain potentially life-saving information that includes advice on how to take action to protect you and your loved ones.
Brisbane Disaster District Co-ordinator, Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman asks the community to follow the advice of local authorities and emergency services.
"It is imperative for your safety that you follow all safety warnings and receive up-to-date information from reputable sources regarding the location and risks of this severe weather event," Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said.
The Brisbane Region is subject to a Disaster Declaration and as such police have a number of extra general powers to ensure the safety of the community.
Exercising these powers in situations where police deem it necessary to protect lives could result in members of the community facing court proceedings. Fines could apply.
Important things to remember during a natural disaster:
- Follow the instructions of local authorities and emergency services.
- Tune into weather warnings.
- Locate your severe weather plan and emergency kit and evacuation kit if evacuation is a possibility.
- Check in with family, friends and neighbours.
- Remembering that phone and internet services may go down so know your local radio station.
Alerts and warnings resources:
- Get Ready Queensland also provides advice for Tropical Cyclone Alfred and general information on preparing and recovering from disasters, including in language resources.
- Queensland Disaster Management Services website for information on preparing, Emergency Alerts issued and current information on disaster events.
For assistance with a life-threatening situation phone Triple Zero (000) immediately.
For assistance with non-life-threatening situations - such as help with a damaged roof or storm damage - phone SES on 132 500.
Keep up to date with the latest weather advice at Queensland Warnings Summary (bom.gov.au).
