What to do after a cyclone

RACQ30/06/2020

After a cyclone has passed, there can still be serious threats to your safety.

Homeowners can be eager to inspect damage to their property and begin the job of cleaning up and making repairs as soon as a cyclone’s winds ease.

However, it is best to wait until all hazards have been cleared, basic services are available to the area and the site is declared safe before starting work.

Fallen trees, downed power lines and even displaced wild animals, such as snakes, can pose a threat to safety in the immediate aftermath to a cyclone. Before and during any post-storm cleanup, the Queensland Government recommends taking the following steps:

Safety first

Check all power and gas supplies have been turned off if the building has sustained any damage.
Only use a generator in a well-ventilated area.
Watch out for dangerous wildlife, such as spiders and snakes, which may have entered your property.
Avoid contact with floodwater.
Wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, long pants, gloves, and rubber boots.
Treat and cover any wounds.
Wear sunscreen and a hat when working outdoors.
Stay well-hydrated.
Wash your hands regularly with soap and drinking-quality water. Use alcohol hand rub after cleaning, particularly if water is not clean.
Protect yourself against mosquito bites.
Ensure you have a first-aid kit onsite.

Drinking water

Water pipes and storage may be damaged in a disaster. Before using any water:
Check with your local council that supplies are safe.
Run the taps for a few minutes to remove any contaminated water inside the tap.
Remove any screens, flow regulators, and aerators.
Thoroughly clean the tap and its parts with hot water and detergent.
Apply a mild disinfectant to the tap and its parts.
Rinse, reassemble the tap, and run the water for a few minutes before use. If you are unsure of the quality of the water, use bottled water or boil water before use.
However, boiling water will not remove chemical contamination.

Cleaning up

Removing green debris and trees that are not causing a danger to life or property is the householder’s responsibility. However, following a major weather event, the State Emergency Service can chainsaw trees that have fallen if they are endangering people or property.

Related topics

The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.

Insurance products (excluding Travel Insurance) are issued by RACQ Insurance Limited ABN 50 009 704 152 (RACQ). Conditions, limits and exclusions apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Read the PDS and any applicable Supplementary PDS before making a purchase decision on this product. You can also access our Target Market Determinations on this website.

Banking and loan products issued by Members Banking Group Limited ABN 83 087 651 054 AFSL/Australian credit licence 241195 trading as RACQ Bank. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and lending policies apply. This is general advice only and may not be right for you. This information does not take your personal objectives, circumstances or needs into account. Read the disclosure documents for your selected product or service, including the Financial Services Guide and the Terms and Conditions, and consider if appropriate for you before deciding.
Except for RACQ Bank, any RACQ entity referred to on this page is not an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). That entity’s obligations do not represent deposits or other liabilities of RACQ Bank. RACQ Bank does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of that entity, unless noted otherwise.

RACQ Operations Pty Ltd (ABN 80 009 663 414 AR 000234978) and Members Travel Group Pty Ltd (ABN 45 144 538 803 AR 000432492) are acting as an Authorised Representative of the issuer of the insurance, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548). Any advice set out above is general in nature only, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before purchasing any travel products, please consider the RACQ Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Target Market Determinations (TMDs) that apply to these products. Whilst the PDS outlines the Terms and Conditions of these products, the TMDs outline the intended class of customers that comprise the target market for these travel products. This will allow you to consider which products best suit your objectives, financial situation and needs and consider the products appropriateness to your personal circumstances. TMDs also outline matters involving the distribution and the review of these products. The PDS, Supplementary PDS and TMDs for each travel product can be found here.