Flood: Prepare
Being prepared for an emergency means ensuring that you have all the knowledge required to best respond to the event. Understanding the flood warning systems, types of flooding, accessing sandbags and what to include in an Evacuation Kit will all assist in the days and hours prior to a flood.
The following information has been provided by the Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES).
Get ready, have a plan, know what to do…
Taking the time to plan for emergencies helps your think more clearly, have a greater sense of control, and make better decisions when an emergency happens.
On the VICSES website, you can find a detailed planning tool to "Get Flood Ready", including a flood checklist (PDF) to help you to create your own emergency plans.
To find out the latest information, download the Vic Emergency app.
Residents can view the GBCMA Flood Intelligence Portal to see how the impacts of this flooding may affect their property.
What are you going to do?
You can handle any emergency better if you are prepared! Emergencies can be hard to predict and emergency services may be unable to reach you in a disaster. Gather and store items ready to support you and your family for 72 hours.
Warning system
Warnings are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) to tell people about possible flooding.
A Flood Watch means there is a developing weather pattern that might cause floods in one or two days.
A Flood Warning means flooding is about to happen or is already happening. There are minor, moderate and major flood warnings
Further information is available from the VICSES website.
Types of flooding
Riverine flooding
In riverine flooding, relatively high water levels above the natural or artificial banks of a stream or river. The nature of riverine flooding can vary significantly in terms of cause, timing and depth between different locations. Coastal rivers with short, steep headwaters often have floods that rise and recede quickly. Inland floods with low gradients have floods that move slowly down the river, sometimes lasting for several months.
Flash flooding
Flash flooding occurs when soil absorption, runoff or drainage cannot adequately disperse intense rainfall, and is usually caused by slow-moving thunderstorms. Flash floods are generally defined as developing in six hours or less from rainfall to the onset of flooding.
Dam failure
Although dam failures are rare, their effects can be significant. In Victoria dam safety is monitored, and warning arrangements are in place to warn downstream residents of potential dam failure threats. Should dam failure occur, significant downstream flooding can involve potentially swift flowing water and high amounts of debris.
Storm surge
Storm surge occurs when sea levels are elevated above the usual tidal limit due to the action of intense low pressure systems over the open ocean. The low pressure causes sea level to rise as there is less air pressing down on the sea. Combined with gale force onshore winds, this can lead to flooding of low-lying coastal land.
Overland flow
Overland flow is water that runs across the land after rainfall, either before it enters a watercourse, after it leaves a watercourse as floodwater, or after it rises to the surface naturally from underground. Rain overflowing from gutters or drains can also become overland flows as it travels over the land, through buildings and along roads as it makes its way towards a watercourse (creek or river).
Sandbagging
Sandbags will not stop the water completely but can reduce the amount of water entering your home. The VICSES Sandbag Guide (PDF) provides valuable information in preparing for floods.
Flood Victoria
The Flood Victoria website was originally developed for the Victorian community by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority on behalf of the State Flood Policy Committee.
This website is largely a portal that provides links to information from a number of different government departments and agencies and can direct you to other websites.
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross offers a range of valuable resources designed to help people to better prepare, respond to and recover from emergencies.
Resources are available for households, seniors, people with disabilities, parents of young children, psychosocial preparedness and coping with anniversaries.