Floods

The Northern Rivers has a long history of floods.

Floods are part of the natural hydro-logical cycle and play a role in sustaining certain types of ecosystems to function efficiently.

However, an exceptional flood event occurred in February 2022 due to high rainfall levels and a number of other factors.

Knowing the flood potential of where you live, work and visit in the Tweed Shire is important to keeping yourself, your family and others safe during floods.

Use the tabs below to get prepared Before, During and After an event.

Before a Flood

STEP 1: Know Your Risk

Recognise the environment that you live in.

Is your property prone to flooding?

Find out about the local flood history (see below)
Know the heights at which your home, business and/or property and local roads could be affected by floodwater
Contact council if you want more information on how flooding could directly affect your property
Talk with people who have lived in the area for a long time, to hear about their experiences of floods locally
Be aware of the natural signs of flooding

See tips from the SES on getting ready for a flood

They have lots of information on their ‘things you can do before a flood’ webpage, including:

1. Know your risk
2. Know where to go
3. Know who to call
4. Know your plan
5. Get your kit together
6. Prepare now to act early
7. Check your insurance
8. Listen to local radio

Check if you are in a flood prone area.

Check the Tweed Shire Council page to access flood information for your property and to generate a flood report

Go to the Tweed Council’s Property Flood Reports

Go to the SES’ Flood Awareness page for our LGA

Check local river heights

This information is a guide only but here are some estimates of when various Roads and Bridges tend to become Cutoff at particular river heights.

View the Flood Impacts on local Roads

And here’s a link to live River Heights and Rainfall for areas that impact Greater Uki:

View River Heights and Rainfall for Greater Uki

BOM River Heights for Northern NSW

View River Heights for Northern NSW

STEP 2: Plan

Make your Emergency Plan

To help households and businesses plan for flooding, the NSW SES has developed a Home Emergency Plan and Business FloodSafe Toolkit.

See links below to prepare your plan.

Make your plan Online

For your Home

Go to the SES’ ‘Home Emergency Plan’ page

For your Business

Go to the SES’ ‘Business Emergency Plan’ page

Check the Tweed Shire Council page to access flood information for your property and to generate a flood report

Tweed shire council flood awareness map

Go to the Tweed Council’s Property Flood Reports

Be familiar with different flood warnings

Know the official Bureau of Meteorology flood warning products – Flood watch and flood warnings are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology
Know the official NSW SES flood warning products – The NSW SES issues community-specific warnings once a Flood Watch or Flood Warning product is published by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.
View all current NSW SES WARNINGS – www.ses.nsw.gov.au
Monitor your Flood Situation and monitor the likelihood of flash floodings and landslips.
Learn to interpret Flood Levels issued by the Bureau of Meteorology
Understand Dam Failure Alerts – In New South Wales dam safety is monitored in most circumstances by the owner of the dam. During heavy rainfall or a flooding upstream, high volumes of water can create additional pressure on the dam wall and may affect its structural integrity. In some instances water can be released to relieve this pressure. Prescribed dams often have early warning systems for communities that lie downstream of the dam and close to the dam.

Go to the SES’ website

STEP 3: Prepare

Prepare your Property

If your property is prone to flooding:

Store all chemicals and poisons above ground level in case of flash flooding.
Identify which indoor items you will need to raise if flooding threatens your home (e.g. freezers, fridges, washing machines).
Identify the most important farm equipment to move to higher ground. Have a plan.
Get out with a mattock and make sure your drains are clear – to save your road or driveway
By taking simple actions to improve your home’s flood resilience of your home, you can avoid some heartache when the next big flood comes.
View ‘How to Improve Flood Resilience for Homeowners’ videos from Sustainable Brisbane for more information.

Renovating a room? Now’s your chance to do it with the new flood resilient materials and design. This means it’s a simple wash-down after flooding.

Make an emergency plan for your animals/livestock

You are responsible for your animals.

Consider making an animal Evacuation Kit, tag your animals for identification and identify family or friends who can help care for your animals in the event of flooding.
If you have livestock and large animals on your property, it is important to take steps to plan for their welfare in the event of a flood.

Download the fact-sheet below to help you.
Download and print your plan below if you have animals or livestock.

Download the SES’ ‘Get Animals Ready’ fact-sheet

Get your emergency kit together

Prepare an emergency survival kit before the wet season starts.

Having a prepared kit means having easy access to things that can help you survive a flood or other natural disaster.
It will be in one handy location.

Here are some tips from the SES on how to put together an emergency kit. Keep your emergency kit in a waterproof storage container.

Your Emergency Kit contents:

Portable radio with spare batteries
Torch with spare batteries
First aid kit (with supplies necessary for your household)
Candles and waterproof matches
Important papers including emergency contact numbers
Copy of any Home Emergency Plans
Waterproof bag for valuables

When leaving or evacuating your property, place in your emergency kit:

A good supply of required medications
Any special requirements and supplies for babies, the disabled, infirm and/or elderly
Appropriate clothing and footwear
Non-perishable food and drinking water

See the Emergency Kit Poster from the SES to help you with your emergency kit.

Download the SES’ ‘Emergency Kit Poster’ as PDF

To stay informed, go to the useful apps & links page to download relevant apps and links.

In an emergency situation, electricity connections may be down.

Consider having alternatives nearby such as gas cookers and generators if you are in an area that is likely to be cut off for a time during a flood.
Think about your water source if your water tank pump fails or if the town water supply is contaminated/damaged and you are unable to leave your home to get supplies.
Be prepared by filling up your bathtub and containers so have ample water for a few days.

The Tweed Shire Council Emergency Dashboard also has links to apps.

Go to the Tweed Shire Emergency Dashboard

Check out the SES resources below on flood preparation.

Go to the SES’ ‘Prepare your Home’ page

Go to the SES’ ‘During a Flood’ page

Join your neighbourhood hub & get to know your neighbours.

Go to RUKI’s ‘Neighbourhood Groups’ page

During a Flood

See advice below from the SES:

When a Flood Warning is issued, there are a few things you can do to protect your family and property:

Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater.
Stack possessions, records, stock or equipment on benches and tables, placing electrical items on top.
Secure objects that are likely to float and cause damage.
Relocate waste containers, chemicals and poisons well above floor level.
Keep listening to your local radio station for information, updates and advice.
Keep in contact with your neighbours.
Be prepared to evacuate if advised by emergency services. (You should receive advice of where to evacuation. Also listen to ABC local radio and check Council, Red Cross and SES pages to see where evacuation centres are)
Act early as roads may become congested or closed.

Download the fact-sheet below from the SES on what to do during a flood

Download the SES’ ‘During Flood’ fact-sheet

Know the new SES Warning System

The new SES warning system is based on the Australian Warning System and has 3 levels. Check it out here:

Go to the SES’ ‘Warning System’ page

Advice (yellow) – an incident has started. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.

Watch and Act (orange) – you need to start taking action now to prepare.

Emergency Warning (red) – you may be in danger and need to take action immediately.

Follow your Emergency Plan

The way to stay safe is to stay out of floodwater.

People get into trouble at causeways because they assume the road surface is intact underneath the water – but it could be eroded.
Once water hits the body of the car, it will start to drift – this is how people lose control.

Tune in to Alerts and Updates

Listen live to ABC North Coast or tune in at 702AM / 94.5FM

Listen live to ABC North Coast

BOM River Levels

Go to BOM’s ‘River Levels Northern Rivers’

Current SES warnings

Go to the SES’ website

Hazards Near Me app

Get the App ‘Hazards Near Me’

Tweed Shire Council Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/tweedshirecouncil

SES Northern Rivers Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/NSWSESRichmondTweed

SES Murwillumbah Unit Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/NSWSESMBH

SES Emergency Help during floods and storms – call 132 500

call 132 500

Other community pages that may be useful:

The Caldera Community Emergency Support FB Page

Go to the Caldera Community Emergency facebook page

The Original Uki Community and Social Group

www.facebook.com/groups/UkiCommunityandSocial

Murwillumbah Matters

www.facebook.com/groups/1235985433095427

Stay connected to your Neighbourhood

If you are not already part of your neighbourhood hub, find and connect with your Neighbourhood Leader if you live in the Greater Uki area.

Get to know your neighbours.
You don’t have to best friends, it’s just good to know who your neighbours are so you can check in with your neighbours and let each other know if you need help.

Go to RUKI’s ‘Neighbourhood Groups’ page

After a Flood

It is important to ensure that your property is safe for you and your family after a flood.

Check the SES poster below for tips on what to do post-flood.

Download the SES’ ‘After a Flood’ fact-sheet

Tweed Shire Council’s Flood Recovery Update from the 2022 floods is regularly updated and has useful links to recovery support resources, from mental health support to infrastructure issues.
Check our health and mental health page for more support
Connect with community. In the event of a flood, check in with your neighbours on foot, via phone/internet or UHF radio.
Past events indicate that either formal evacuation centres or spontaneous community-run emergency ‘hubs’ are generally formed within a couple of days of the events. If you can safely access your nearest community ‘hub’, help will likely be available there. The Uki School of the Arts Hall, Kunghur Hall, Doon Doon Hall are all spaces where community members may gather. Check ABC loca radio and local social media pages or with your Neighbourhood Leader if you’re not sure where to go.

The Australian Red Cross have put together the following advice on cleaning up after water damage.

Download the Red Cross’ ‘Cleanup’ fact-sheet