Safety tips for Queensland flooding: what you need to know
Issued: 3 Dec 2025 6 mins read

Dealing with floods can be extremely stressful, but some key preparations can help minimise danger for you and our wildlife.

If there’s one severe weather event that Queenslanders (unfortunately) have a lot of experience with, it’s floods. Much like bushfires, floods are a natural part of many ecosystems in Australia – but factors like climate change and urbanisation are nudging these weather events into more dangerous categories.

Dealing with the impacts of a flood can be extremely stressful – but with a bit of preparation and flexibility, you can give yourself the best chance of making it through a flood event with minimal damage. We’ve gathered essential safety tips for Queensland floods, including how to prepare, what to avoid, and how to give our wildlife a helping hand.

Why do floods happen?

While we can’t stop them from happening, understanding why floods occur can help us prepare. A flood occurs when water temporarily covers land that is usually dry, and no two floods are the same. The scale and type of flooding depend on how much rain falls, how long it lasts, and where it happens.

There are three main types of flooding:

Riverine flooding happens when heavy rain over days or weeks causes rivers and creeks to overflow their banks. In some parts of Queensland, this can lead to widespread flooding covering thousands of square kilometres for weeks at a time. It’s often caused by tropical cyclones, monsoon troughs, or low-pressure systems.

Flash flooding occurs after intense rainfall in a short amount of time. Water moves quickly, overwhelming streets, drains, and creeks. Flash floods are unpredictable, dangerous, and common in urban areas.

Storm surges and storm tides happen when cyclones or severe storms push seawater onto land, especially during high tides. These floods can inundate low-lying coastal areas and are made worse by strong winds and powerful waves.

A blue car trying to drive through deep floodwaters is submerged up to its bumper. A row of cars behind it stay safely out of the water.

If it’s flooded, forget it! Driving through floodwaters is extremely dangerous, no matter what type of car you’re in.

Safety tips for all stages of Queensland floods

When it comes to floods, preparation and common sense can go a long way in keeping you safe. While rapid-onset flash flooding doesn’t allow as much time for you to get ready, being armed with basic safety tips can help you stay calm and navigate a quickly evolving situation.

Before the flood

Good preparation is critical for reducing risks and helping with a speedy recovery post-flood.

Start by knowing whether you live in a flood-prone area by visiting local government flood maps or resources like Flood Check Queensland. You can learn more about your flood risk at the Get Ready Queensland website.
Make a Household Severe Weather Emergency Plan – it’s a quick and easy way to make sure all the information you need is in one spot.
Prepare an emergency kit with essentials, including non-perishable food, drinking water, a torch, spare batteries, medications, important documents, and supplies for your pets or livestock.
Clear your property of potential hazards like debris, and ensure drains, gutters, and culverts are clear to minimise water overflow.
Download handy apps or bookmark and save websites that provide flood alerts and warnings.

During the flood

Stay calm, keep your plans flexible, and follow these tips to stay safe during Queensland floods.

If it’s flooded, forget it – this is an absolute golden rule during floods. Avoid walking, swimming, or driving through floodwaters – they can move quickly and hide dangers like debris, heavy currents, and even displaced animals like snakes and crocodiles.
Follow local emergency services' advice, and don’t delay in evacuating if instructed to do so.
Stay informed – use the apps you have downloaded and stay across current conditions by using reliable sources to receive real-time updates and safety information.

After the flood

The water level may be dropping, but there are still safety risks after a flood – being vigilant is crucial.

Look out for displaced wildlife that may be sheltering on or near your property – we’ll provide more information on what to do in the next section of the blog.
Check in on neighbours and relatives who may need assistance, especially the elderly, folks with medical needs, or people with limited mobility.
If you were evacuated, only return home after authorities declare it safe.
Wear protective clothing, gloves, and sturdy footwear while inspecting any flood-affected areas.
Be cautious of electrical risks, structural damage, sharp objects, or contaminated water – this is why safety gear is so important!

Floods in Queensland: handy links

A wet koala crawling across a eucalyptus tree branch.

Keeping an eye out for wildlife during wet weather could help save their lives.

Helping Queensland wildlife during floods

Flooding can have severe impacts on our animals – fast-moving floodwaters can destroy habitats, displace animals, and leave them struggling to survive or adapt. Land animals, particularly those with young, are especially vulnerable and can have trouble escaping. Snakes, frogs, and lizards use trees as high ground, sometimes leading to unusual behaviours – such as predators and prey sharing refuge to survive.

Basically, floods are a recipe for disruption – but you can help ease the chaos. Knowing what to do (and what not to do) during a flood can make a major difference to wildlife recovery.

What to do if you encounter displaced wildlife

After a flood, animals may turn up in unexpected places. It’s important to be careful around them as they may be disoriented, frightened or injured. If you see sick, injured or distressed animals, contact 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) for specialist advice from the RSPCA’s trained wildlife responders on how to proceed.

For snakes, maintain a safe distance and call a professional snake catcher if they are in your house or another unsafe location. Snakes are excellent swimmers and may use floodwaters to travel or to seek refuge in unusual places, such as trees, sheds, or even vehicles.

If you live in or near crocodile habitat, floodwaters can conceal crocs that have been flushed out of their usual homes. Report any crocodile sightings as soon as you can – these creatures are highly mobile and can move on quickly, so time is of the essence.

Make your property wildlife-friendly during floods

During floods, offering safe spaces can help wildlife without putting anyone at risk. Create dry shelters on your property using raised platforms, planks, or shelves where small animals can escape rising water. Remove hazards like loose netting or exposed barbed wire that could entangle and harm animals. You can also provide clean drinking water in shallow bowls or containers.

Caring for pets and livestock

Keep your furry friends safe during floods by bringing pets indoors or moving them to higher ground. Livestock should be relocated to elevated paddocks well ahead of severe weather. Store pet food in waterproof containers and make sure pets are microchipped – this makes a reunion much easier if you get separated.

Flood safety: a community effort

Flood safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes a whole community to reduce risks and recover effectively. By staying informed, preparing your home and family, and looking out for your neighbours – both human and animal – we can all play a part in building resilience. Together, we can help protect lives, support each other, and safeguard the unique ecosystems that make Queensland so special.

Safety tips for Queensland flooding: what you need to know Issued: 3 Dec 2025 6 mins read