Disasters & Emergencies

Tropical cyclones are intense low-pressure systems that form over warm tropical waters.

Cyclones are dangerous for three main reasons:

• Destructive winds can cause extensive damage and can turn debris into dangerous missiles.
• Heavy rainfall can produce extensive flooding and landslides.
• Storm tide can increase sea levels above king tide level (highest astronomical tide) and cause damaging waves.

The Bureau of Meteorology keeps the public informed by issuing cyclone watches and warnings. Further information can be found through the Tropical Cyclone Knowledge Centre.

What are the local risks?

The Mackay region has a high risk of being impacted by cyclones during the “wet season” or “cyclone season”, which officially runs from November 1 to May (although some have formed in the Coral Sea as late as early July).

Refer to the Emergency Action Guide for more information on preparing for cyclone season and what to do in the case of a cyclone emergency.

A storm tide is the rise of the ocean water level, combined with the tide at the time and strong onshore winds and/or reduced atmospheric pressure.

This combination of effects, especially if it occurs on a high tide or king tide, can force sea water and pounding waves into areas that would normally be well above sea level and sometimes several kilometres inland if the land is low lying. The more intense the cyclone is, the higher the storm tide risk is.

What are the local risks?

The Mackay region has a very high risk of being impacted by cyclones, including storm tide, during the “cyclone season”, which officially runs from November to April. The Mackay region has several low-lying areas at significant risk from storm tide.

Refer to the Emergency Action Guide for more information and storm tide inundation and evacuation maps.

There two types of flooding that affect our region:

• Riverine flooding from the Pioneer River, creeks and other tributaries
• Localised flash flooding, which is overland water that exceeds the capacity of drainage structures.

The Bureau of Meteorology keeps the public informed by issuing flood watches and warnings. Further information can be found through the Flood Warning Services: Bureau of Meteorology

What are the local risks?

The region has a high risk of being impacted by flooding primarily during the “wet season”, which officially runs from November 1 to May. Flooding may or may not be associated with cyclones or severe weather events and can occur at any time of the year.

Refer to the Emergency Action Guide for more information and Pioneer River flood inundation evacuation zone maps.

Severe Thunderstorm/Weather warnings are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. In active months, especially November to May, many of these warnings are issued for parts of the Mackay region. Although these events can be dangerous and it is important that the community is warned and aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions, they rarely result in a large-scale disaster event that requires a significant coordinated response and recovery effort.

What are the local risks?

More intense thunderstorms are referred to as severe thunderstorms which can cause significant localised damage due to damaging wind gusts, possible large hail, heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Severe Weather Warnings are provided for potentially hazardous or dangerous weather that is not solely related to severe thunderstorms, tropical cyclones or bushfires.

Refer to the Emergency Action Guide for more information.

Bushfires and grassfires are common throughout Australia.

Grassfires are fast moving, passing in five to 10 seconds and smouldering for minutes. They have a low to medium intensity.

Bushfires are generally slower moving, but have a higher heat output. This means they pass in two to five minutes, but they can smoulder for days.

What are the local risks?

Wildfires can happen here although we live in the tropics with humid conditions. They may be started through arson (deliberately lit), carelessness (such as discarded cigarettes, sparks from machinery or unattended fires), as the result of an accident or, rarely, as the result of a controlled/prescribed burn.

If there is a long spell of hot, dry weather and it’s windy, the fire risk increases. Generally, the fire season in Central Queensland is through the winter (“dry” season) and spring months.

In the region, there are extensive areas of medium bushfire hazard and several smaller areas or high bushfire hazard. You don’t have to live in the bush to be threatened by bushfire, just close enough to be affected by burning material, embers and smoke. There are lightly timbered but heavily grassed nature reserves and open space which back up to residential housing and pose a threat to life and property.

Refer to the Emergency Action Guide for more information including warning levels.

The Bureau of Meteorology defines a heatwave as three days or more of high maximum and minimum temperatures that is unusual for that location.

What are the local risks?

Every location across Australia has its own unique climatology of heat and can be impacted by heatwaves. The bulk of heatwaves at each location are low intensity with less frequent ones being higher intensity with the ability to impact vulnerable sectors such as aged or chronically ill. Even rarer and exceptionally intense heatwaves are classed as extreme and will challenge many normally reliable sectors, including power and transport infrastructure.

Refer to the Emergency Action Guide for more information including how to protect yourself, family and pets.

Earthquakes in Australia are usually caused by movements along faults as a result of compression in the Earth’s crust.

What are the local risks?

Earthquake hazard in the region is high in Queensland terms, moderate in Australian terms and low in global terms. Earthquakes can be one of the most devastating and unpredictable natural disasters known to human civilisation. They strike without warning at any place, at any time and can be of any size.

Refer to the Emergency Action Guide for more information.

A landslide is the movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope. The factors which influence whether a landslide will occur typically include slope angle, climate, weathering, water content, vegetation, geology, slope stability and the amount of loading on the slope (overloading).

What are the local risks?

Landslides are not a common occurrence, nor a major threat in the region. However, there are some areas of the region which could be susceptible to landslides under certain conditions, including Mt Pleasant, Mt Oscar, Blacks Beach, Dolphin Heads, Rural View, Golflink Heights, Nindaroo, Habana, Eungella, Sarina, Eton Range and Sarina Range.

Refer to the Emergency Action Guide for more information.

Queensland Health is responsible for responding to major public health incidents in the State, including pandemic influenza. In the event of an influenza pandemic in humans, Queensland Health leads and coordinates government and community partners’ efforts to protect public health.

Pandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of disease that can occur when a new strain of influenza, to which people are not immune, emerges and spreads. Unlike many other disasters or public health emergencies, pandemic influenza is generally not a short or localised disruption. Pandemic influenza is generally widespread and can come in waves that may last for months or years.

Visit the Queensland Government's Pandemic Influenza site. This site provides information for the general public, health professionals and industry on how pandemic influenza could affect them in the future and the best way to prepare.