Summer Weather Survival Guide by SUDDENLY Queensland

SUMMER WEATHER SURVIVAL GUIDE 2017/18

EXPERT TIPS

Keep your home and family safe

FORECAST

Wild weather coming our way

CHECK YOUR HOME INSURANCE FOR HOLES,

BEFORE ONE SHOWS UP

THIS STORM SEASON —

Know your home is covered with automatic storm and flood cover in every Suncorp Home & Contents Insurance policy. Plus the extras that make life easier should a storm hit: — Up to 12 months temporary accommodation if your home is unliveable*. — We’ll pay reasonable costs to store undamaged contents if your home is unliveable^. — Cover for food spoilage, up to $500, if your fridge or freezer stops working as a result of a storm. — We’ll pay up to $500 to re-obtain important documents like birth certificates, drivers and licences and passports.

For a storm-ready summer, take out a Suncorp Insurance policy today.

Call 13 11 55 or visit suncorp.com.au/insurance

*Temporary accommodation limited to 10% of home sum insured. ^ Limited to 10% of contents sum insured. Conditions & eligibility criteria apply. Some exclusions apply. Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Information provided is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account any person’s particular objectives, financial situation or needs. Before buying this insurance read the PDS and consider whether it is right for you. Call us for a copy.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR, PETER GLEESON

Planning takes the sting out of storms F

or Queenslanders, summer comes as a mixed blessing. Warm temperatures and blue skies allow us to make the most of our spectacular beaches, for kids to splash under sprinklers and in creeks, and for boaties to get out on the water. But summer is also storm season. Every year,

our weatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wild side emerges, often with devastating effect. From floods to cyclonic winds to dangerous heatwaves and freak hailstorms, Queenslanders seldom escape a summer season untested. Earlier this year, Cyclone Debbie and its subsequent downgraded weather system delivered a one-two punch

to our state. First, cyclonic winds smashed the coast, with Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island right in the category 4 tropical cycloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s path. Despite downgrading to a category 1 and then a tropical low, Debbie continued to wreak havoc for five more days, moving south into northern New South Wales, where the

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INSIDE

Tweed River burst its banks, forcing widespread evacuations and causing massive damage. Will we see another cyclone this summer? Only time will tell. Bureau of Meteorology Queensland manager Bruce Gunn says all the indicators point to a typical season. “A typical cyclone season would see between 10 and 13 cyclones develop in Australian waters,” Mr Gunn says. “Of these, we could expect to see about four in the Coral Sea and possibly one coastal crossing, but as we saw earlier this year with Tropical Cyclone Debbie, just one event can have devastating effects.” So we wait. And

BEING INFORMED IS KEY TO KEEPING SAFE. STAY ON TOP OF THE WEATHER WITH THE SUNDAY MAIL while we wait, we prepare. The Sunday Mail Summer Weather Survival Guide is packed with information designed to help you and your family make it through the season unscathed. It’s a well-established fact that a small amount of

planning and preparation today could save you a mountain of heartache tomorrow. Being informed is also key to staying safe and you will always find the latest forecast and coverage of extreme weather events in The Sunday Mail and The Courier-Mail, in print and online. Check The Courier-Mail and couriermail.com.au each day for your daily forecast, and download the CourierMail smartphone app to stay informed on the weather, no matter where you are. Whatever the weather, the mantra is the same: Prepare for the worst, hope for the best and enjoy another great Queensland summer.

Weather forecast Pocket survival guide Farmers pray for rain Reliving Debbie Building it better Flash photography Fireproof your home Garry Youngberry Insurance assurance Timeline of disasters Plan to survive Social media lifeline Protect your pets Luke Bradnam

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 23 24 26 28 30

Production: News Corp Studios - Queensland Writers: Robyn Ironside, News Corp staff writers Design: Lameze Hendricks Cover Image: Storm clouds and lightning flash over the Brisbane River looking towards South Bank from the Kangaroo Point cliffs. Picture: Steve Pohlner/AAP

NO THROUGH ROAD: Springbrook locals stranded after landslide. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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BRISBANE HAS, ON AVERAGE, 31 SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EACH YEAR

COOL CHANGE: Nicola Weaver helps Clare Pendreich cool off at South Bank.

SUMMER OUTLOOK

Long hot spell to end with a splash N

ot for nothing is Queensland known as the Sunshine State. We love our summers and seize the opportunity to hit the beach or splash about in backyard pools as the mercury rises. But rarely does the season pass without drama, with heatwaves, storms, cyclones, flooding and bushfires all potentially part of the mix. Extreme weather events can cause damage – even death – and summer 2017/18 is unlikely to be any different.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Jason Nicholls is forecasting a wet end to this summer, with February likely to record above-average rainfall. “Overall rainfall should average close to normal, with January drier than usual,” he says. Bureau of Meteorology statistics for October show Rosedale near Bundaberg received 825.2mm for the month, and in just one day, Makowata near Miriam Vale copped 389mm. In terms of temperatures,

weather watchers will be keeping a close eye on the mercury, after Queensland’s warmest winter on record. Mr Nicholls advises that daytime and overnight temperatures through to the end of January are also likely to be warmer than average for Queensland, but “overall sustained heat is not expected”. Bureau of Meteorology Queensland manager Bruce Gunn says there is still the possibility of a late-season La Nina event, characterised by wetter than average

conditions and increased cyclone activity. “There is now a 70 per cent chance of a La Nina occurring, which is triple the normal likelihood,” Mr Gunn says. “In 2008/09, a La Nina event also developed later in the year.” But fears of a repeat of the Queensland floods in January 2011, which was one of the strongest La Nina events on record, would appear to be unfounded. “Climate models suggest that any event is likely to be weak and short-lived,” Mr Gunn says. “The outlook for summer has no strong shift towards either wetter or dryer conditions.” The tropical cyclone outlook also points to a typical season “not influenced by either El Nino or La Nina”. “A typical cyclone season would see between 10 and 13 cyclones develop in Australian waters,” Mr Gunn says. “Of these, we could expect to see around four in the Coral Sea and possibly one coastal crossing, but as we saw earlier this year with Tropical Cyclone Debbie, just one event can have devastating effects.” On the storm front, the bureau has already issued a number of severe thunderstorm warnings for many parts of the state, although the peak risk period, between the months

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of October and December, has almost passed. “Brisbane is particularly prone to severe storms with, on average, 31 severe thunderstorms each year,” he says. In addition to damage from hail, wind and lightning that accompanies severe storms, properties across the state can be vulnerable to flash flooding. Mr Gunn says the chance of any sort of flooding is always heightened during the summer. “It’s not called the wet season without reason,” he says. “Major flooding is a risk every year somewhere in Queensland as we have already seen with recent flash flooding in Bundaberg, and major flooding for the Kolan River and Baffle Creek during October.”

SURVIVAL GUIDE

2017 in numbers HOTTEST DAILY MAXIMUM Thargomindah, 47.2 degrees, February 12

HOTTEST DAILY MINIMUM Birdsville, 33.5 degrees, January 20

HOTTEST WINTER HIGH Palmerville, 37.2 degrees, August 19

OUR WETTEST SPOT Mt Jukes, 635mm of rain, March 30

HIGHEST WIND SPEED 263km/h at Hamilton Island, March 28

*SOURCE: Bureau of Meteorology statistics. Facts and figures are correct at time of printing.

MUDDY WATERS: Musicians entertain clean-up crews during floods caused by Cyclone Debbie.

STORM-READY

CHECKLIST #1

—

Check your home insurance policy Check your policy for storm and ﬂood cover Take photos of your property and belongings Store important documents in a water-tight container For a storm-ready summer, talk to Suncorp Home Insurance about our automatic storm and ﬂood cover. Call 13 11 Call 11 55 today tod oday ay visi s t suncorp.com.au/insurance si sunc su nc cor o p. p co com. m.au au/i / ns /i sur uran ance ce yo orr vi visit

Insurance nsurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Some exclusions apply. Before buying this insurance read the PDS and consider whether it is right for you. Call us for a copy.

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CUT OUT AND KEEP

Who to call ALL LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES Police, fire and ambulance on triple-0 (000) on landlines and mobile phones, (112) from mobiles only CYCLONE AND STORM EMERGENCIES State Emergency Service on 132 500 ses.qld.gov.au YOUR WEATHER Land weather and flood warnings: 1300 659 219 Coastal marine warnings: 1300 360 427 Tsunami warnings 1300 878 6264 See also bom.gov.au

YOUR POWER Energex: 131 962 (emergencies only) 136 262 (loss of supply) Ergon: 131 670 (emergencies only) 132 296 (loss of supply) ergon.com.au to check for outages.

BE PREPARED

Pack a kit just in case P

reparation is the key to surviving the storm season unscathed. By getting organised now, you

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can avoid last-minute panics and ensure that your family – and your property – suffers as little impact as possible.

From restocking your first-aid kit to gathering important documents in one handy folder, small steps will pay off in a big way should the worst happen.

PAPER TRAIL Collect copies of all important documents and either pack them in a waterproof bag or scan copies on to a USB. These include property and life insurance documents, wills, house deeds, mortgage

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It’s time to tidy up your yard EACH year the word goes out — clean your yard and prepare your house for the worst. Tackle the small tasks now and you can save time, money and heartache down the line. If you haven’t already done so, it’s not too late to sort out the following: ■ Check that your roof is in good condition. ■ Trim overgrown tree branches which could land on your roof. Check with your local council if you’re unsure about which trees or branches you can legally cut, and never attempt to trim trees that are near powerlines. ■ Fix any corrosion, rotten timber, termite infestations or loose fittings around the house. ■ Set aside a weekend to clean drains, gutters and downpipes regularly, and especially after a long dry spell. Even if you have gutter shields, you need to tackle the mildew and dirt that accumulates in gutters. ■ Clear the yard of rubbish — take it to the tip, or store it under the house until the next council hard-rubbish collection. Loose items such as children’s toys and broken tools can become missiles in a storm. ■ Do you know how to safely turn off your power, water and gas? If not, it’s time to learn.

documents, birth and marriage certificates, passports, Medicare and pension card details, immunisation records, bank account and creditcard details. Store these in your emergency kit (see below) and be sure to update every year.

sunscreen and insect repellent. If you have a baby, make sure you have enough nappies for at least three days, plus some nappy sacks. A battery-powered radio is one of the most reliable items in a disaster. The Australian emergency broadcaster, ABC, has radio stations on both AM and FM frequencies. Locate your local ABC frequency and store it in the memory of your battery-powered radio or place a line on the dial if you have analog tuning. Include a week’s supply of prescription and over-thecounter medication. Make sure it is all within its use-by date. Keep a list of medications, dosages, allergies, medical records, doctor’s name and contact numbers for nearby clinics and hospitals. Also include batteries for hearing aids, prescription glasses, a spare Medic-alert bracelet or necklace, syringes and measuring cups, and an Epipen, if needed.

EVACUATE

EMERGENCY KIT Purchase a waterproof storage box and pack it with everything you might need should disaster strike. Start with a well-stocked first-aid kit, including a first-aid manual. If at all possible, complete a first-aid course – first-aid training can save lives. Prepare an inventory of all necessary household items and head for the supermarket and hardware store to ensure you have everything you need. Include a torch (or two) or a battery-powered lantern, and make sure to include enough spare batteries or charging devices to last three days. Pack your tool kit,

including a wrench or pliers and hammer. You’ll also need: plastic sheeting, duct tape, wide masking tape for windows, a tarpaulin, rope, buckets and a clean-up kit, including plastic garbage bags and ties, safety glasses, a shovel, yard broom, rake and axe. To prevent injury or infection after a disaster, pack sturdy gloves, a widebrimmed hat, jumper, waterproof jacket and closed-in shoes or boots.

Keep clean water in sealed containers, storing at least 2.5 to 3 litres of drinking water for each person per day for three days. Every two or three months, empty the water on to plants and refill with fresh water. If you have a pet, put aside some water for them as well. You will need personal supplies such as toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, hygiene products, sanitary disposal bags,

Should you need to evacuate your home, pack the following items: ■ Multiple changes of clothes for all household members, stored in watertight plastic bags (long pants, long-sleeved shirts, hats and strong shoes are recommended). ■ Extra essential medicines and repeat prescriptions, extra first-aid supplies, sunscreen, insect repellent. ■ Extra toiletry and sanitary supplies, pillows, sleeping bags and blankets for each household member. ■ Books and games for children. ■ Extra baby formula, food and nappies (if required). ■ Valuables, photos (prints, CD or USB) and mementos in waterproof plastic bags. ■ Extra money. ■ Mobile phone, spare battery and charger.

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RAIN DANCE: Cameron, 4, Kate, 6, and Claire Willis, 9, celebrate good rains in Balonne Shire. Picture: Nigel Hallett QUEENSLAND DROUGHT

Praying for skies to open D

espite some good rain in recent weeks, almost two-thirds of Queensland remains drought declared. Thirty-four of the state’s 78 local government areas are entirely or partly drought declared – with 16 of those having endured drought conditions for more than four years. Another seven have been in drought for more than three years, and areas including Bundaberg, Cherbourg, the Fraser Coast, Somerset and South Burnett were added this year. Director of land management at the Department of Agriculture, Vern Rudwick, says the situation is still a big

improvement on a year ago, when 88 per cent of the state was drought declared. “A key feature of the current drought was that at one stage, the Gulf Country and parts of the Cape of Carpentaria were drought declared, which had not happened since the 1970s,” Mr Rudwick says. “These areas in the Gulf and the Cape were revoked earlier this year.” A drought declaration means producers in an area are eligible to apply for State Government drought assistance. When declarations are revoked, producers qualify for freight subsidies to restock their properties. Warwick beef producer

and Agforce drought policy spokesman Helen Lewis says the assistance is welcome, but producers still need to come up with their own plan and strategy to survive a long drought. “You do use a lot of your saving resources to keep going,” Ms Lewis says. “It’s about having a drought plan, and being

RAIN HAS GIVEN PRODUCERS REASON TO FEEL OPTIMISTIC

prepared for when the rains do come by having clean dams and everything set up and ready to go.” She says recent patchy rain has given producers reason to feel optimistic about the summer ahead. “There is a strong feeling that this summer will bring rain,” she says. “The rainfall to date has been quite helpful. It’s just unfortunate you can’t put your order in as to where you’d like it to fall.” Of the state’s water storage facilities, Leslie Dam near Warwick is at just 14.5 per cent capacity and Bjelke-Petersen Dam near Cherbourg at 18.7 per cent. Others are sitting at less than 50 per cent capacity.

NDING VA STA L T U

2015 - 2017 S

OM T E & CONTEN

FOR OUTSTANDING VALUE HOME INSURANCE,

LOOK TO THE STARS

—

Canstar has awarded Suncorp Home Insurance 5 stars for outstanding value. So for insurance that gives you automatic protection against storms and ﬂoods, plus great value, take out a Suncorp Home Insurance policy today. Call 13 11 55 today or visit suncorp.com.au/insurance

Some exclusions apply. Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Before buying this insurance read the PDS and consider whether it is right for you. Call us for a copy.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

REFLECTING ON DEBBIE

Tales of heroism in the driving rain Harrowing tales of brave rescues and survival emerged in the wake of Cyclone Debbie, the state’s most extreme weather event of the year. These stories epitomise Queenslanders’ resilience in the face of adversity

n Ipswich father thought he and his family were going to drown in floodwaters before a truck driver came to their rescue. The B-double truck dragged Donald Craigie, his son, also named Donald Craigie, 18, nephew Peter Johnson, 20, and friend Marilyn Swan from the flooded Cunningham Hwy early on Friday, March 31, seconds after a torrent of water engulfed their car. They were washed against the truck as the driver told them to hang on while he drove them out. Mr Craigie said he saw his “life flash before his eyes”. He and his family and friend had been trapped at a roadblock at Aratula for eight hours on March 30,

waiting for floods caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie to recede. Shortly after midnight, the road opened and they continued back to Ipswich, only to run into floodwater less than 3km down the Cunningham Highway at Kalbar. “When we first noticed, it was only a few inches,” he said. “We tried to stop and reverse out, but our car became stuck. We tried to go forward to free ourselves, but at the same time, a torrent of water came through, lifted our car and turned us 180 degrees to face oncoming traffic. “In less than a minute, water came through the floor. It just gushed in, and within that minute we were shoulder-deep in water. My friend got out of the driver-

side window and my nephew got out. My son got out of the passenger-side rear window and climbed on to the roof of the car. I was the last one out – my arm got caught in the seatbelt.” Mr Craigie and his son were washed against the side of the truck, where they found Ms Swan and Mr Johnson clinging to the trailer. “They called out to the driver and he saw them and stopped his truck so they wouldn’t get washed under the wheels,” he said. After reaching dry land, Mr Craigie, his son and nephew went back into the water to save two women whose car was also trapped. Mr Craigie and his family had been travelling back to Ipswich after celebrating his mother’s birthday in Tamworth. The car was among at least three to become trapped in the water. “I was just thinking about getting everyone out and to safety,” Mr Craigie, a truck driver, said. “All I could think about was my son being on the roof and my friend and nephew being washed away. “I’d hate to think what would have happened if the truck wasn’t there.” LUCKY TRUCKIE: Don Craigie and Marilyn Swan, of Springfield Lakes.

KEEL OVER: The yacht Courtesan beached on Moore Park Beach.

Mini tornado tears roof from family home

uddled in a cupboard as ferocious winds tore the roof off their home, John and Gail Mossman were scared for their lives. The Miriam Vale greatgrandparents had little warning as a strong gust of wind ripped through their home on March 30. It was the day Tropical Cyclone Debbie was at her most ferocious. At 10.30am, a mini tornado swept through Miriam Vale, tearing the roof from the Mossmans’ property and two others. Minutes earlier, Mrs Mossman received a call from her granddaughter Casey warning them to be careful as “there’s a big gust of wind coming”. The Bureau of Meteorology’s Sean Fitzgerald said mini tornadoes and wind

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Response fell short of perfect

Injured skipper plucked from capsized yacht TOP DOWN: A mini tornado tore the roof from the Mossmans’ home. funnels were common during thunderstorms and tropical cyclones. Tears welled in Mrs Mossman’s eyes as she recalled the night they almost lost everything. “There was a terrible noise. It was like a freight train,” she recalled. “I saw the bathroom roof go. The noise was terrible. “I went to put the mattress over us but it was too heavy, so I grabbed two pillows.” Mrs Mossman said the ordeal felt like it lasted for hours. “But then we heard someone sing out from the front: ‘It’s okay Gran and Pa, we’re coming’.”

ild seas whipped up by Tropical Cyclone Debbie made the task of rescuing an injured skipper and his yacht off Moore Park a treacherous task. It took the help of locals, authorities and council workers to get Courtesan and its crew to safety. The wild conditions saw the 12m yacht washed aground on Moore Park Beach on March 30. The skipper was severely injured while sailing in rough seas and was unable to pilot the

THE SKIPPER WAS INJURED SO WE STABILISED HIM AND WAITED

boat. The owner, who was uninjured, was also aboard. Moore Park resident Russell Stewart was the first on the scene and alerted the authorities just after noon. “I secured the vessel back on to shore, on the back of my truck, and then proceeded to offload the owner,” he said. “The skipper was injured inside the cabin, so we stabilised him and waited for the emergency services.” Swiftwater Rescue officer Jonathon Blackley said the weather had been extreme, with driving rain hampering the rescue. He said Queensland Fire and Rescue removed the skipper from the yacht after paramedics had administered pain relief. Two workers from Bundaberg Regional Council’s parks department, Brett Rycen and Brendan Whalley, also became central to the rescue. Volunteer Marine Rescue told the workers conditions were too severe for them to assist. They forwarded the request to Swiftwater Rescue, which attended. The council workers remained until help arrived.

LESSONS learnt from Cyclone Debbie’s punishing push across the state will hopefully mean a smoother response to the next natural disaster. After the cyclone pummelled the Whitsunday coast, and then continued to wreak havoc as a severe weather system through central and southeast Queensland, the State Government sought a review of agency responses. The Cyclone Debbie Review Action Plan found several areas in need of improvement. They included increased information sharing between local and state governments to avoid situations where residents are given conflicting advice. Such a scenario arose in Mackay when the council disagreed with the State Disaster Centre’s decision to evacuate 25,000 residents. Government agencies were also urged to work more closely with the tourism sector on evacuation orders. And the plan recommended storm tide markers be installed in prominent public places to show the risk of big storm tides to the community. Emergency alerts also came under scrutiny after criticism of the delay in telling communities of the decision to close all schools south of Agnes Water and east of Nanango. The government committed to developing education programs to teach local groups how to use the alert system.

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FIRST LIGHT: Maika McDonald, Lauren Squires, and Karen and Katelin Gordon at Shute Harbour after Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Liam Kidston BUILD IT BACK BETTER

Tie it down, sport G

iven Queensland’s susceptibility to storms, it would be easy to presume that our houses are built to withstand severe storms and cyclones, with reinforced roofs, safety glass and secure garages and carports. But that’s not the case. Under the National Construction Code, high standards are required of new buildings, allowing for variations in climate

and geographic conditions. Building height from the ground, materials, bracing and reinforcements must all meet specific requirements and pass mandatory inspections throughout the construction process. But the same standards are not required of existing properties, unless major renovations are undertaken that warrant a new building approval. Queensland Master

Builders Association manager for housing services Phil Breeze says the inconsistencies do not help to create a safer community. “Even if you do have a new home built to the current standard, the property is still at risk in a storm from flying debris from older properties that are not built to the same standard,” Mr Breeze says. “When more people upgrade their dwellings to

current requirements, there’s a whole lot of knockon benefits.” He says owners who are upgrading should upgrade to current requirements. “There’s legislation that requires you to do that and it’s incumbent on contractors who come to quote on homes,” he says. “Builders have a lot of knowledge to impart on this subject and consumers should keep in mind that it’s not just about price. “It’s about getting something that’s a bit more resilient or a product you can just hose down.” Savings can be made on insurance as a result of

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upgrading the construction standard of a home. Insurers such as Suncorp offer discounts on premiums in recognition of the greater resilience. Suncorp head of consumer portfolio Julian Benton says they also offer low-interest-rate loans to Queenslanders for building works that help to “cycloneproof” their properties. “It’s been a focus of ours for a while, looking at how we can help people manage the risk, particularly in north Queensland,” Mr Benton says. “We offer discounts of up to 20 per cent to customers who improve the resilience of their homes.” He says it’s often the “simple stuff” that can make a huge difference – not just to people’s own properties but the properties around them and the broader community. “The range of things that people can do is wide, from clearing potential missiles from the garden to strengthening the roof,” Mr Benton says. “That can mean making sure the roof covering is fully intact and the underneath is tied down appropriately, so rafters to battens, and rafters all the way down to the base of the building ultimately. “The more that’s tied up,

CONSUMERS NEED TO REMEMBER IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT PRICE the less chance there is of the roof being torn off.” Garden sheds and garages with roller doors also warrant attention. “A lot of damage comes from blowing in roller doors, so bracing can help, and reinforcements for garden sheds to stop them getting airborne,” he says. Mr Breeze would like to see government support for Queenslanders upgrading their properties to current standards.

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“Governments spend a lot of money assisting people whose houses have been damaged by cyclones, high winds and flood, so it would actually make good commercial sense for governments to invest money into a community that is vulnerable,” he says. Queensland executive director of the Property Council of Australia, Chris Mountford, says risk factors associated with storms and flooding are now very much taken into consideration in new developments. “Changes to the building code are reflected if there is something being built in a flood-prone area,” Mr Mountford says. “The materials used are more resilient, and if it’s a large development, a lot of site work is done to ensure any risk is mitigated.”

BEFORE YOU CHECK THE RADAR,

CHECK YOUR HOME INSURANCE

—

For a storm-ready summer, talk to Suncorp Home Insurance about our automatic storm and ﬂood cover. Call 13 11 55 today or visit suncorp.com.au/insurance

Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Some exclusions apply. Before buying this insurance read the PDS and consider whether it is right for you. Call us for a copy.

Locals to the rescue A SCHEME to boost awareness of possible cyclones is being rolled out again this year after being hailed as a success 12 months ago. The Cyclone Ready Streets project, run by Townsville City Council in partnership with Suncorp, encourages locals to clean up their neighbourhood ahead of big storms. Josh Cooney, Suncorp senior manager for government, industry and public policy, says the 2016 pilot project, involving more than 50 streets and 200 households, worked. “It’s a behaviour-change project we’ve been working on for some time,” he says. “If a community has reduced the number of insurance claims after a storm, it helps us, loved ones and homeowners.” Suncorp is working with the Cyclone Testing Station at James Cook University in Townsville. “Every little bit helps, from trimming trees and cleaning gutters and downpipes to fixing things that can come loose, such as fence palings,” Mr Cooney says.

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IMAGE GALLERY

Flash photography You can count on a Queensland summer to be a photographerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream

2 6 3 4 5

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12 8

1 A midmorning storm looms over Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett 2 Sam Oliva (left) and Megan Shields soak up the rays. Picture: Nigel Hallett 3 Tayan Papuni, 12, jumps from a bridge into Tallebudgera Creek. Picture: Nigel Hallett 4 Lyla Lucas, 3, of Ashmore, splashes through puddles. Picture: Adam Head 5 Darcy Winter, 14, takes a break from patrol at Currumbin. Picture: Nigel Hallett 6 Nikky Jackson, 28, monitors a controlled burn. Picture: Scott Fletcher 7 Clouds roll over the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett. 8 Wild weather takes its toll on Joel Tudehope’s umbrella. Picture: Mike Batterham 9 Three men in a tinnie ply floodwaters at Depot Hill. Picture: Tim Marsden 10 Angus Lindsay, 9, ignores the approaching storm. Picture: Nigel Hallett 11 A bedraggled cockatoo in Airlie Beach after Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Alix Sweeney 12 The “Burrumbuttock Hay Runners” haul $6 million worth of hay to Ilfracombe, east of Longreach. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen 13 Tane Dobbyn, 13, is covered in foam at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Nigel Hallett 14 A Brisbane storm cell. Picture: Theresa Faulkner

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BUSHFIRE ALERT

Suburbs an ember away from danger T

his year’s catastrophic fires in California are a reminder to us all that you don’t have to live near bushland to be affected by bushfire. The incineration of whole neighbourhoods in the city of Santa Rosa were a graphic illustration of that fact, and a reminder to suburban homeowners to be prepared this bushfire season. According to the Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ), to be at risk you just need to be close enough to a fire to be affected by burning material, embers and smoke, and, in Queensland, that means anywhere. In late August, after a hot dry winter, Queensland’s bushfire outlook was dire. After widespread rain in March, fire fuel was plentiful and it was all tinder dry. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services director of rural operations James Haig says the situation was “very, very challenging”. Then the rain came, and the bushfire hazard was almost reduced overnight. “The rain has been particularly good and across a large part of Queensland, but definitely not all,” says acting Chief Superintendent Haig. “Areas in the western parts of the state, west of Charleville generally and probably all the way up to the Gulf country ...

they’ve had the least rain, and certainly the most patchy rain, and that is of great concern.” He urges householders in all parts of Queensland to take precautions such as clearing gutters, trimming trees, mowing the grass and removing excess vegetation to reduce the risk of bushfire. “The summer is far from over, and we can dry out again quickly,” Mr Haig says. The RFSQ encourages all Queenslanders to have a bushfire safety plan in place and to be aware of the three levels of bushfire warnings. The service says it is important for residents living and travelling in bushfire-prone areas to monitor danger-rating signs. There are six levels of fire danger rating, from lowmoderate to catastrophic. A low-moderate or high fire danger means blazes would be easily controlled

CIGARETTE BUTTS ARE A COMMON CAUSE OF DANGEROUS ROADSIDE FIRES

BLACK FOREST: Rural fire brigades are bracing for this year’s fire season. Picture: Scott Fletcher and pose little or limited risk to life or property. A very high fire danger means fires would be difficult to control and homes could be destroyed. Severe and extreme fire weather conditions could result in fires that are unpredictable and fastmoving, with people injured and homes destroyed. In catastrophic weather conditions, fires would burn so fast and hot they would be uncontrollable, fast-moving and unpredictable. The potential for loss of both property and lives would be high during these conditions. And a reminder: always be careful with your cigarette butts. “Cigarette butts are a common cause of dangerous roadside fires, and smoke haze caused by these fires has the potential to cause serious accidents, particularly on the highway when people are travelling at high speed,” says an RFSQ spokesman.

BACKYARD CHECKLIST ■ Ensure your house number is clear (for emergency service crews) ■ Mow your lawn regularly ■ Remove dry, long grass, dead leaves and branches on the ground ■ Remove flammable items ■ Trim branches away from buildings ■ Keep gutters clear of leaf litter ■ Enclose open areas under decks ■ Make sure LPG cylinders are secured ■ Check that pumps, generators and water systems are working ■ Check the first-aid kit is fully stocked ■ Replace damaged roofing and seal gaps ■ If you have a pool, consider a firefighting kit designed for pools ■ Download a Bushfire Survival Plan at ruralfire.qld.gov.au

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How to survive being trapped WHEN bushfire strikes, authorities encourage all residents to either leave early – before travelling by road becomes hazardous – or be prepared to stay and fight. Getting caught in the flames in your car is a worst-case scenario, but one that bushfire-affected residents can all too easily find themselves in. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises any driver who sees smoke in the distance to drive in the opposite direction. If, however, you find yourself unable to escape a fire, get down low and shield yourself as well as possible. “We hope people never get into this position, but if they are, we advise them to get down as low as they can in the footwell of the car and grab any blankets they have,” a QFES spokeswoman says. “They should hold water with them and cover themselves with as many blankets as possible. This will provide a barrier from the heat.” Most bushfires would take about a minute to pass over a car and the consensus is that it is safer to be in a car than exposed to the fire.

STORM-READY

CHECKLIST #3

—

Have a Plan Finalise an evacuation plan Pack a survival kit Create a list of emergency numbers For a storm-ready summer, talk to Suncorp Home Insurance about our automatic storm and ﬂood cover. Call 13 11 55 today or visit suncorp.com.au/insurance

LET’S GET DOING

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ON LOCATION

Recalling highs and lows For Channel 9 presenter Garry Youngberry, 2017 has been a dramatic year for weather

s a weather presenter who frequently ventures out of the studio and into the field, I’m most often asked, “What’s it like to be in a severe tropical cyclone?” Well, no cyclone is the same, but I can guarantee the higher the category of the storm, the greater the level of fear you will feel. I have been in

every tropical cyclone to affect Queensland in the past nine years, and there are a few that stand out. TC Yasi for its sheer size and power, but Debbie is still very fresh in my mind. On March 23, 2017, a tropical low formed in the Coral Sea. It would become Queensland’s deadliest tropical

cyclone in more than 40 years. On March 26, TC Debbie made landfall around noon at Airlie Beach as a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone. It was the strongest TC to impact Queensland since TC Yasi in 2011. I was right in the core of Debbie as she impacted Airlie Beach. As wind gusts reached 260km/h, our team of Brian Russell, cameraman and audio, Ian Flemming, technician and satellite operator, and myself took shelter in an apartment on the northeast side of the town. The roar of winds

and sheer noise levels of a cyclone are hard to explain. Often people associate it with a jet aircraft taking off, but it is also relentless. Debbie screamed through the night and into the next day, by which time we had no electricity and no water. One extremely uncomfortable factor of any cyclone is the 100 per cent humidity. Moisture is not only running down the walls of your

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apartment but dripping off the ceiling. Everything becomes wet and will stay that way for days. Your clothes, your bed linen, everything. The next challenge is the smell, and after that it is one challenge after another as you try to work and supply everyone with information from television to radio and social media, while you are functioning on very little, if any, sleep. Communication is something we tend to take for granted, but as the crisis rolls on, the batteryhungry devices we all rely on start to run low. Thankfully, my team of Brian and Flemmo have been here before and know how to cope in these situations, but after a few days of no water, no electricity and diminishing supplies, it starts to wear thin. We eventually started running out of fuel to power our generator, which was a huge concern. Have you ever tried to siphon fuel from a late-model car? It’s near impossible. These were just some of the challenges we faced each day as we worked to maintain a flow of pictures and stories to not only the Nine Network but many media outlets. That was just round one of TC Debbie. As cyclones make landfall and the eye of the storm passes, they usually weaken. But not Debbie. Her tail was the most intense I have ever witnessed. Round two of Debbie caught many by surprise and will be talked about for generations to come. Especially, if I can set the scene, of three Channel 9 employees who hadn’t

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THE NEIGHBOURS GOT A FRIGHT TO SEE THREE STRANGE MEN IN THEIR UNDERWEAR showered for several days. Under the cover of darkness the three of us, Brian, Flemmo and myself, decided to walk out on the front deck of the apartment in our jocks to shower, at last, in the torrential rain. This was a great idea under darkness, until a massive lightning bolt lit up the skies and turned it into daylight. Let’s just say the next door neighbours got a fright with three strange men standing on the veranda in their underwear as the cyclone still raged. Sometimes you have to laugh to get through these situations. But it does have an effect on you after a while, seeing the devastation and loss of life. Also knowing that I will be back to my comfortable environment in a week or so, while these poor people will

live this over and over again for months, years and in some cases forever. As Debbie continued her path inland and south, the damage bill mounted into the billions – $2.4 billion to be precise. The mental and emotional cost was even greater, and still continues as people try to rebuild, not only their homes but their lives, and also to come to terms with the loss of 14 lives from this disaster. So let’s just pray this coming cyclone season is a safe and uneventful one. Please stay safe over Christmas and the New Year and, as a New Year’s resolution, perhaps try to have a better understanding of the weather.

Garry Youngberry (left, and on location with Brian Russell at Airlie Beach, above) says Debbie’s tail was ‘the most intense I have ever witnessed’.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

TAKE COVER

Uninsured left out in rain I

f there’s one thing more devastating than suffering severe storm damage to your home, it’s suffering severe storm damage and not being adequately covered by insurance. Of the thousands of homes that suffer significant storm or cyclone damage in Queensland each year, it’s estimated 5 per cent have no home building insurance, and 7 per cent of homeowners have no contents cover. For renters, the statistics are even worse. Only a third of tenants bother to take out contents insurance. One of the biggest lessons learned from recent events is the importance of knowing the details of an insurance policy in regards to inclusions and exclusions. As many homeowners discovered after the 2011 floods, not all policies are equal, and insurers tend to take a different view of

damage from water that rises, as opposed to water that falls from the sky. A post-event review of insurance claims by the Queensland Flood Commission found only Suncorp provided automatic

IT’S VITAL TO BE FULLY COVERED IF DISASTER STRIKES flood cover, resulting in 98 per cent of claims being accepted. In the case of other insurers, 61 per cent of claims were accepted and 39 per cent declined. As storm and cyclone season gets into full swing, Suncorp head of consumer

MUD ARMY: Cleaning up in Logan after flooding caused by ex-Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Jono Searle

portfolio Julian Benton says it’s always wise to do an “insurance health check” so there are no nasty surprises after a major event. He says as a first step, check you have the right sum insured on your policy. “In the event of a significant or total loss, the payout you will receive is limited to the sum that’s insured,” he says. Mr Benton says one of the biggest pitfalls for long-term homeowners, is forgetting to update their policy to reflect changes in building codes. “Building codes do change over time and the cost of rebuilding a home can cost more than it did when it was built,” he says. Campbell Fuller, from the Insurance Council of Australia, recommends using an online insurance calculator to check if cover is sufficient and reduce the risk of being underinsured. “It’s vital to have enough insurance cover to fully

rebuild, repair or replace buildings, contents and other assets if disaster strikes,” Mr Fuller says. A good way to lower premiums is to undertake work that lowers the risk of cyclone or flood damage – such as raising a property, reinforcing the roof and installing safety glass. Suncorp offers discounts of up to 20 per cent to homeowners who improve the resilience of their homes. STORM INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION STEPS 1 Read through your insurance policy to be aware of your level of cover. 2 Update insurance company contact details in your phone address book. 3 Prepare a room-by-room inventory of home contents. 4 Maintain a digital photo album of all major and valuable household items. 5 Store important documents in a single plastic folder.

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A history of disaster A

ustralia is no stranger to natural disasters, with extreme weather testing the national character on a regular basis. Here are some of the biggest disasters to hit our nation over the years:

DROUGHT 1979-83 Four years of drought led to unprecedented low rainfall across central and eastern Australia in 1982-83, contributing to the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia. 1991-95 Several major reservoirs ran dry and others fell to critical levels during this drought in northeast NSW and much of Queensland. 1996-mid 2010 The Millennium Drought severely affected the Murray-Darling Basin and much of southern Australia.

FIRE 1967 Tasmania With southern Australia in the grip of severe drought, fire raged across southern Tasmania on the morning of February 7. In Hobart, 62 people died. 1983 Ash Wednesday On Wednesday, February 16, about 180 bushfires burned across southern Australia, resulting in 47 deaths in Victoria and 28 in South Australia. 2003 Canberra On January 18, firestorms fanned

by high winds hit Canberra suburbs. Thousands of hectares of forest and parkland were burnt. Four people died. 2009 Victoria On February 7, extreme winds and temperatures contributed to as many as 400 fires affecting 78 towns in Victoria. Kinglake, Marysville, Narbethong, Strathewen and Flowerdale were all but destroyed on Black Saturday. 173 people died and 414 were injured.

FLOODS 1974 Floodwater due to heavy rainfall from weakening Cyclone Wanda inundated Brisbane in January 1974. Fourteen people died, 56 homes were washed away and 1600 were submerged. 1990 Flooding in April 1990 saw more than one million square kilometres of Queensland and NSW (and parts of Victoria) under water. About 60 people were injured and six were killed. 2010-11 Beginning in December 2010, flooding forced the evacuation of thousands of Queenslanders. A flash flood in Toowoomba resulted in an “inland tsunami” which devastated communities in the Lockyer Valley. Thousands of houses in Ipswich and Brisbane were inundated as the Brisbane River rose and thousands of megalitres were released from Wivenhoe Dam.

2013 More than 1000mm of rain fell in 96 hours thanks to ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald. In Bundaberg, the Burnett River rose to a record 9.53m, forcing a major evacuation.

CYCLONES Cyclone Mahina, 1899 More than 400 people lost their lives in March 1899 when Cyclone Mahina smashed into Cape York. Cyclone Tracy, 1974 On Christmas Eve 1974, Cyclone Tracy dropped 195mm of rain on Darwin in less than nine hours. Winds flattened the city and at least 66 people were killed. Many thousands were injured and out of a population of 43,000, 25,000 were left homeless. Cyclone Larry, 2006 The far north Queensland coast was declared a natural disaster zone after Tropical Cyclone Larry

on March 20. The Category 5 cyclone registered winds of up to 290km/h, causing major damage but no loss of life. Cyclone Yasi, 2011 Tropical Cyclone Yasi crossed the north Queensland coast on February 3. At Mission Beach, wind gusts were estimated at 290km/h. No lives were lost. Cyclone Debbie 2017 On March 28, Tropical Cyclone Debbie crossed the coast at Airlie Beach as a Category 4 system. Hamilton and Daydream islands were devastated, with Airlie Beach and Proserpine sustaining significant damage. A wind gust of 263km/h, at Hamilton Island, was the highest ever recorded in Queensland. As the cyclone became a low and headed south, major flooding was caused in Queensland and northeast NSW, with multiple lives lost. Source: australia.gov.au

PAST BLASTS: A Darwin couple breaks from the clean-up in 1974 and (top) Brisbane mates during the ‘74 floods.

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DAMAGE: Katy and Levi Ward after Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen EMERGENCY PLAN

Storm strategies

edia coverage of recent bushfire disasters, such as Black Saturday in Victoria, and the devastating Blue Mountains fires of 2013, have thrown light on the need for a bushfire survival plan. But knowing what to do and how to do it is just as important in the case of a storm-related emergency. Queenslandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s State Emergency Service encourages all residents to prepare Home Emergency Plans to ensure preparedness should disaster strike. Taking just half an hour or so to prepare a plan now could prove a lifesaver in the case of a severe storm or flood. Storms and other emergencies can strike without warning, and having

STORM-READY

CHECKLIST #2

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Get your home ready Clean out stormwater gutters Trim branches Learn how to safely switch off power, gas and water For a storm-ready summer, talk to Suncorp Home Insurance about our automatic storm and flood cover. Call 13 11 55 today or visit suncorp.com.au/insurance

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a plan makes it easier to navigate a potentially stressful situation. The first step to preparing a Home Emergency Plan is to gather everyone in the household together. Have a conversation about how a severe storm might affect your house – are there trees nearby that could fall and damage the house? Which is the strongest room in your house in case of a cyclone or tornado? Talk about the best emergency exits and agree on a meeting point where you can all assemble in case of evacuation. It’s also important that everybody in the house who is of age understands basic practical information, such as the location of the main electricity switch, main gas

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Stay alert for warnings THERE are plenty of sources of information when it comes to severe weather warnings or storm alerts. The SES suggests the following: ■ Tune into local radio and TV stations for storm warnings and weather updates. ■ Log on to bom.gov.au and disaster.qld.gov.au for warnings and alerts. ■ Check your mobile for Emergency Alert messages. ■ Familiarise yourself with the Standard Emergency Warning Signal, which is the siren that sounds at the beginning of storm warning announcements on radio and TV. ■ Listen out for SES personnel who may knock on your door.

valve and main water valve and how to turn them all off. If you have a solar system, learn how to shut it down. Your plan should include a record of all important service providers (electricity, gas, council, doctor, insurer etc), important contacts (for example, friends and family) that you can turn to for

PREPARING A PLAN NOW COULD PROVE TO BE A LIFESAVER

assistance, and general emergency contacts. To make the process simpler, the SES has created a Home Emergency Plan template that can be downloaded from its website at stormwise.com.au. Download it, print it out and fill it in so that if a storm hits, you’re ready to go.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

SOCIAL MEDIA

Writers on the storm S

KEEP ME POSTED: The Queensland Police Service has developed a cult following on Facebook and Twitter with its mix of humorous and timely information.

ocial media has had a profound impact on our lives, and that applies to disaster situations, too. Thanks to social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, we are more connected than ever before, and staying informed about storms is fast and easy. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) recognise the value of using social media during disasters and major incidents. And the Queensland Police Service (QPS) won international recognition for its mastery of social media during the 2011 floods. Dr Emma Potter-Hay,

who spent almost two years embedded in the QFES for her PhD on disaster communication, says those floods were a turning point for the use of social media. “That really marked a shift in where many people sourced their information,” Dr Potter-Hay says. “If you look at the number of followers of the QPS and QFES on Twitter and Facebook, I think that’s an indication that people expect that is where they’ll get their information.” QPS Media and Public Affairs director Simon Kelly says social media has become a vital tool for communicating directly

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SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME A VITAL TOOL DURING MAJOR WEATHER EVENTS

Saving app for rainy day

HUMAN NATURE: A man takes a selfie in cyclonic conditions in South Florida in 2016. with the public and the media during major weather events. “Social media also allows QPS to access immediate feedback from the public during disasters,” he says. But the relatively new form of communication is not without its challenges. Mr Kelly says one of those is competing with false information, which can spread rapidly on social media. “Where possible, we do our best to join the online conversation by dispelling incorrect rumours and providing factual information,” he says. During the 2011 floods, the QPS made a huge success of the hashtag #mythbusters to identify and correct false information. “Another hindrance is the temptation for people to go outside and put themselves in danger, to get more information and possibly take photos to put on social media,” he says.

“That can be heightened when a media outlet encourages people to ‘send us your photos’ of the cyclone hitting, or floodwaters.” As an “early adopter” of social media during crises, Australia, and particularly Queensland, are used as references for other countries. “We’ve become quite well known for how well we dealt with floods and that’s influenced a lot of other places,” says Professor Axel Bruns from the Queensland University of Technology Digital Media Research Centre. “In the UK, local police forces now have all of their officers on social media, which could be problematic given not everyone is adept at using it.” Other challenges from the use of social media during emergencies relate to well-meaning people using emergency service hashtags to post messages of support and praise. “If you’re following the hashtag #cyclonedebbie or #qldfloods for example and you’re getting a lot of people posting inane messages like ‘thinking of all those in the cyclone’s path’, then that’s going to make it harder to find important information,” Prof Bruns says. QUT researcher Judith Newton sees another issue with relying on social media for information during emergencies.

THOSE hungry for variety in their forecasts are well catered for in the app world. Here are a few of our favourites:

BOM WEATHER (Google Play, App Store, free) Australia’s “official” weather app, BOM Weather features warnings, radars and forecasts. Highly rated by users, it has been downloaded more than half a million times. WEATHERZONE (Google Play, App Store, from $1.99/year) This Australian app is packed with features and is a favourite with Brisbanebased storm chaser Marty Pouwelse, who rates the handy “lightning tracker”. OZ RADAR (Google Play, App Store, free) Displays local radars from across Australia. “It has access to every radar in the country, and it displays a location ‘dot’ so you know exactly where you are,” says storm photographer Drew Chapman. “That’s particularly handy for not getting hailstones through the windscreen.” ACCUWEATHER (Google Play, App Store, free) With 50 million downloads, Accuweather is a global favourite that features forecast data for more than three million locations. Includes sunrises, sunsets and allergy alerts. CARROT WEATHER (App Store, $7.99) Describing itself as “the weather robot with a personality”, Carrot delivers its forecasts with a side of humour. Not for the easily offended. “As useful as Twitter or Facebook might be, they’re not much help when the phone dies and it can’t be recharged because you’ve got no power,” Ms Newton says. “It just goes to show that when preparing for a storm or flood, you still need batteries and a radio because that’s likely to be your best source of information in that situation.”

SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW ■ Queensland Police Service on Facebook at facebook.com/ QueenslandPolice and on Twitter @qldpolice ■ Queensland Fire and Emergency Services on Facebook at facebook.com/ QldFireandRescueService and on Twitter @QldFES

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LOST PET? CALL THE RSPCA ON 1300 36 37 36 OR REGISTER YOUR PET MISSING AT RSPCAQLD.ORG.AU

HOT DOG: Great Dane Rome with Taryn Smith, 28, of the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett PET PROTECTION

Thunder struck S

torm season is tough on pets. Thunder and lightning can stress anxious cats and dogs, while heatwaves are a high-risk time for furry friends. Dr Nic Cher (pictured), of Fortitude Valley Vet, says pets can sense the change in barometric pressure leading up to a storm, so often start to show signs of anxiety before their owner even realises a storm is brewing. “Most owners would recognise ‘storm phobia’ as the three Hs: the howling, the hiding and the havoc,” Dr Cher says. “These signs can include vocalising, excessive licking of the lips, pacing, trying to hide or escape, or generally unsettled behaviour.” Upset canines can

sometimes work themselves into such a frenzy they can hurt themselves. Dr Cher offers the following simple strategies for calming pets who are frightened.

DISTRACT AND REASSURE Engage your dog in activities he or she enjoys. Get the tennis ball out and roll it around the floor. Hugs and tummy rubs with lots of treats are never a bad thing. ThunderShirts may simulate hugging and generate a sense of calm. BUILD A CAVE Create a comfortable place for your pooch to head to during a storm. A pet crate or an enclosed space such as a wardrobe will let your pet safely hide from the negative stimulus. Drowning out the noises with a loud radio can also be beneficial. NATURAL THERAPIES Flower essences such as Bach flower extracts (Rescue Remedy) or dog appeasing pheromone diffusers may

supplement the previous tips to help you build a calming environment. MEDICATION Talk to your vet about drugs that can help your pet if you are concerned about their health or safety – very upset dogs can sometimes get selfdestructive. Or get a referral to a vet who specialises in behavioural issues. DESENSITISATION Playing a thunderstorm soundtrack when it’s not raining can reduce a pet’s sensitivity to loud noises. Play a game of fetch while starting the sound at low volume and gradually work your way up to very high volume. This process can be a good way to negate fearful reactions. Dr Cher encourages all pet owners to be prepared with an emergency kit that includes food, water, a bowl, spare collars and leads, pet carriers, a pet first-aid kit, toys and treats, and any medications your pet needs. It is also important to ensure your pet’s microchip details are up to date before a storm hits. At least 30 per cent of the pets that come into the RSPCA are microchipped, but the chip is not registered. To check if your pet’s chip is registered, visit petaddress.com.au and enter your animal’s microchip number.

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ON THE WATER

Coastline awash in seafood Make the most of the great summer fishing season with some tips from Channel 9 beaches and fishing presenter Luke Bradnam

or many Queensland fishermen, the only complaint about the fishing over summer is that the season doesn’t last all year long. On top of summer being our marlin season, our mackerel season and our dolphin fish season, it is also when we see sand crabs, and perhaps the best eating fish in the sea – the beautiful whiting – become plentiful. All in time for Christmas. During summer in southeast Queensland, water temperatures rise to the mid 20s. The warmer water brings in the bait fish and following them is the mighty marlin. A marlin is a bucket-list fish for most fishermen. We have some of the best game fishing in the world off the

southeast Queensland coast from January until March each year. The difference between marlin season here and elsewhere is that here, the marlin travel so close to the coast. You don’t need an expensive game boat to catch one – I caught my first marlin in my tinnie 2km off the Southport Seaway in 1991. Travelling with the marlin over summer are big mahi mahi schools. There are not many prettier fish in the ocean, and not too many better eating either. Fortunately, mahi mahi are

fairly easy to catch, having earned a reputation as being the dunces of the sea. On our closer reefs, Spanish and spottie mackerel will be caught in good numbers throughout summer. Mackerel fishing is an excellent way of introducing kids to fishing offshore as the reefs are close to the coastline. In the estuaries and rivers, the warmer weather and storms create the perfect environment for the tough fighting mangrove jack. Mud crabs are also prolific in some areas through summer. A $20 crab pot with some mullet as bait will make your Christmas dinner table the envy of the neighbourhood. My favourite part of

summer is beach fishing with my daughter. Look for a gutter in the surf, and chances are you will find a school of dart or whiting. There’s not too many better ways to spend an afternoon than this.

LUKE’S TIPS FOR SAFE ANGLING: 1 Have all your safety gear. Not only could it save you a fine from the water police, it could also save your life. 2 Check the forecast. Strong winds and storms can get up quickly over summer. 3 Take your kids. Only thing better than catching a great fish yourself, is watching your kid catch a great fish. 4 Put in the time. Perseverance is key. 5 Obey bag limits. If we all do, we will continue to have some of the best fishing in the world for years to come.

NDING VA STA L UT

2015 - 2017 S

OM T E & CONTEN

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— Up to 12 months temporary accommodation if your home is unliveable*.

— We’ll pay reasonable costs to store undamaged contents if your home is unliveable^. — Cover for food spoilage, up to $500, if your fridge or freezer stops working as a result of a storm. — We’ll pay up to $500 to re-obtain important documents like birth certificates, drivers licences and passports.

For a storm-ready summer, talk to Suncorp Home Insurance about our automatic storm and flood cover. Call 13 11 55 or visit suncorp.com.au/insurance

*Temporary accommodation limited to 10% of home sum insured. ^Limited to 10% of contents sum insured. Conditions & eligibility criteria apply. Some exclusions apply. Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Information provided is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account any person’s particular objectives, financial situation or needs. Before buying this insurance read the PDS and consider whether it is right for you. Call us for a copy.