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Where to get help after a natural disaster

Accommodation

Emergency evacuation centres provide a short-term answer to accommodation worries if your home is destroyed or badly affected by a natural disaster.

Tenant

If you are a tenant and your rented home is considered non-liveable, you can end a tenancy agreement on the day notice is served—but you must give notice within one month of the disaster.
The Residential Tenancies Authority answers questions tenants, landlords, managers and agents ask after natural disasters.

  • Find out what ‘non-liveable' means and what forms need to be used.
  • Find out about rental arrangements and your legal position.

The Department of Housing and Public Works can help renters find a place to live following a natural disaster. Visit or call your local Housing Service Centre.

Homeowner

The Department of Housing and Public Works may be able to help home owners who need financial assistance after a natural disaster. Visit or call your local Housing Service Centre.

Animal emergencies

To report lost or missing animals during times of disaster and emergency events contact your local council or the RSPCA lost/found website.

If you need to report an animal in distress, or you have concerns for the welfare of an animal, contact one of the following options:

  • RSPCA Inspectorate on (07) 3426 9971 or 1300 852 188
  • Queensland Primary Industry call centre on (07) 3239 3111
  • Your local police station.

To report wildlife emergencies, marine strandings and pollution incidents, call the Wildlife Hotline on 1300 130 372.

Building repairs

Rebuilding and repairing your home after a natural disaster can be a daunting challenge. There are services and support available to guide you through the rebuilding process.

You can find a contractor to carry out building work, a supplier or other service for your residential property.

The Building Services Authority provides both general and technical advice on a range of rebuilding issues including removing asbestos, permits you may need and cleaning flood damaged properties.

The Queensland Government provides information about managing asbestos for home owners, businesses and volunteers involved with a clean up and recovery of buildings damaged by fires, storms and floods. Employers and workers involved in flood and storm recovery efforts must still remember their obligations under Queensland's work health and safety laws.

Community recovery centres

Community recovery centres give immediate help to people after a disaster. 

If you are in a declared disaster area and you can't reach your nearest centre, a representative from a community recovery team may be able to visit you. For more information, phone the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Counselling

Living through a natural disaster is traumatic. People deal with their experiences differently. Many, though, may want counselling.

Try:

Financial assistance and income support

Centrelink may be able to help with services or payments to support you after an emergency or crisis.

Community Recovery Centres may also provide financial assistance to people in declared disaster areas.

Health

Looking after your mental health is just as important as your physical well-being. We've collected tips and services that can support your mental wellbeing after a disaster.

Insurance help

Your insurance company is the first place to contact to make a claim for your home and contents.

Read Legal Aid's fact sheet on getting an insurance claim paid for storms, cyclones and floods.

Emergency contact details

Emergency: 000

State Emergency Service (SES): 13 25 00

Disaster Recovery Helpline: 1800 173 349

Road conditions and closures: 1300 130 595 (statewide 24-hours)

RSPCA: 1300 363 736

Queensland Government: 13 74 68

National Relay Service: 13 36 77

Energex  (South-East Queensland only): 13 62 62 (faults only),  13 19 62

Ergon Energy: 13 22 96 (faults only), 13 16 70

Telstra: 13 22 03

Optus: 1300 307 937

Emergency Management Queensland's emergency contacts list includes telephone numbers and links to social media websites.

Watch out for electrical hazards

Take extreme care with electricity, including electrical equipment and appliances, household switchboards and supply, and downed power lines. Visit Ergon Energy for details about electrical safety after a storm.

Lost dog or cat?

Was your dog or cat lost during a natural disaster? Microchipping can reunite pet and owner faster as the database records are Queensland-wide, not restricted to local council boundaries (as pet registrations are).

Cleaning up after flooding

Australian Red Cross has developed a cleaning up after flooding booklet with key points, advice and tips on cleaning up flood damage. The booklet, along with other community recovery publications, is available on their website.

Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0)
Last updated:
26 February 2013

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