AUSTRALIAN WARNING SYSTEM | FLOODING WATCH & ACT | PREPARE NOW FOR INCREASED FLOODING

UPDATE — THIS WARNING HAS EXPIRED. CHECK THE EMERGENCY DASHBOARD (dashboard.trc.qld.gov.au) FOR UPDATED WARNINGS.

PREPARE NOW FOR INCREASED FLOODING — Herbert River Catchment — flooding as at 4.30pm Thursday 6 February 2025.

Warning level — WATCH & ACT

Warning area — Herbert River Catchment in Tablelands Regional Council Local Government Area.

This warning is from Tablelands Regional Council.

Monsoonal rain areas with heavy to locally intense falls are likely to persist across northern Queensland over the coming days. Flash flooding will continue to be an increased risk as catchments are now saturated and will rapidly respond to any further heavy, short duration rainfall.

A Major Flood Warning continues for the Herbert River — river levels are generally easing, though renewed rises are possible with the potential for further heavy rainfall over the next few days.

Do not expect emergency services to come to your door.

Impacts

River and creek levels may rise quickly in the Herbert River catchments.
Flooding will likely increase in the rivers and creeks.
Some roads are flooded.
Very heavy rain and water over roads may make it dangerous to drive.

What you should do

If your property is at risk:

Decide if you and the people you live with will leave if floodwaters get close to your house.
If you have children make sure they are with you or a responsible adult.
Warn friends, family and neighbours in the area. Help others if you can.
Lift important things onto benches, tables, high shelves or upstairs.
Move cars to high ground.
Make sure you have enough food, drinking water, medicine and pet food for up to several weeks.
Be prepared to have no power. Charge mobile phones now.
If you find it hard to move quickly leaving early is safer than waiting. Call your support service, a family member or a friend to help.
Prepare sandbags if you think you will need them.
Stay off the roads unless it is necessary to travel.
Stay away from rivers and creeks.
Batten down and tie up boats, jetskis and pontoons. Haul out if you can.

If you decide to leave early:

Go to a safe and high place, away from flooding. This could be with family or a friend.
Take your pets, pet food, pet lead, crate, mobile phone, charger, enough clothes for five days, important documents (like identification, insurance papers and passport), medicine, cash, valuables and keys.
Block toilets, sinks and drains with sandbags to stop sewerage backflow.
Lock windows and doors.
If you are travelling and come to a flooded road, turn around and go another way. Do not drive through floodwater.

If you are camping or caravanning:

Check water levels and warning updates.
Be ready to move people, pets, camping gear and vehicle to higher ground.

If you have livestock:

Consider moving livestock to higher ground. You may need to open gates to other paddocks so animals can move if floodwaters rise.
Block access to low-lying paddocks, shelters or other places near creeks and rivers.
Provide lots of food and clean water in a safe place away from creeks and rivers.
Make sure animals can be identified if they get lost. This may include brands or tags.

More information

Go to our Emergency Management Dashboard (dashboard.trc.qld.gov.au) for the latest weather warnings, emergency contacts, road closures and conditions, power outages, news from our Disaster Coordination Centre, links to ABC radio and key social media.
If your life is in danger, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
For cyclone emergency help, call the SES on 132 500 or download the SES Assistance QLD app.
Visit the Bureau of Meteorology (bgov.au/qld) for weather information.
Listen to our local radio stations.

The next update will be when the situation changes.