Cleaning up after severe weather or cyclones can be exhausting and stressful. It's important to wait for the all-clear before you begin, wear protective gear and stay safe by listening to local authorities.
- Stay safe — Keep listening to your local ABC Radio station for updates and information on road closures or hazards in your area.
- Don't go into the water — Stay clear of creeks, drains and other waterways in case of flooding.
- Watch out — Be careful of damaged powerlines; stay at least two bus-lengths away.
- Think about food safety — If you've lost power, find out how long it's likely to be out and make a plan for keeping your food safe to eat.
- Don't go sightseeing — Checking out damage in theRJ Rain falls through a torn roof during a severe storm in South East Queensland street could hamper the efforts of emergency services.
- Check on your neighbours — Wait until it's safe to do this.
Record everything
- Make a list — Write down everything that's damaged including the make, model and year of purchase and serial number.
- Gather evidence — Take photos and video anything that's damaged.
- Be thorough — Check all of your land and property, from your fences to your gutters.
Cleaning up – riverine flooding
- Wear protective clothing — Sturdy footwear (e.g. rubber boots), loose long-sleeved shirts and trousers, thick waterproof gloves, hat and eye protection (e.g. sunglasses).
- Wash your hands — Make sure the water you use to wash your hands is clean and don't forget to use soap. Clean your hands regularly.
- Shovel out mud — Remember to check nooks and crannies and any other spaces where mud could be concealed.
- Dry out your home — Try to dry out your building as quickly as possible. Open all the doors and windows and if available, use fans to speed up the process.
- Clean first and then disinfect — Clean walls and floors with detergent and water, then disinfect walls, floors and ceilings with a solution of 125mL of household bleach to 5L of clean water. Do not use hot water. Do the same for kitchen benches and fridges but with a disinfectant solution of 50mL of bleach to 10L of water.
- Throw out anything you can't wash — If something has been wet by floodwater and you can't clean it, you should throw it out.
- Take care with furniture and mattresses — Wet mattresses are hard to clean and can become mouldy. You may have to throw them out, along with upholstered furniture, unless a professional can clean and restore it.
- Be aware of hazardous material — Take precautions if you are handling asbestos cement debris and/or chemicals. Ask local council or SES workers about waste collection and disposal in your area.
Cleaning up – flash flooding
- Assume floodwater is contaminated — Anything that came into contact with floodwater is probably contaminated. There is a risk that sewage overflow may have also occurred.
- Keep pets and children safe — Keep them away from contaminated areas until the areas have been properly cleaned.
- Dry out as soon as possible — Open doors and windows to increase ventilation and remove dampness.
- Clean and sanitise — Wash all hard surfaces (floors, walls, benches), utensils and crockery and outdoor play equipment. Use hot water and household detergent, disinfect with a bleach-based sanitiser, and do a final rinse with clean water.
- If in doubt, throw it out — Clean all absorbent household materials (mattresses, furniture, rugs, linen, children's soft toys). Materials should be either dried in the sun and cleaned or thrown out if soiled and cannot be cleaned.
- Get rid of mould — If mould is present, use a household detergent or a white vinegar solution. Here are some more tips on how to remove mould.
- If yards are contaminated with mud from flash flooding, let the mud dry out before using the yard.
Tree and debris removal
- Ask the SES — If downed trees are blocking access to your home or it's possible a tree could fall damage your home, you can call the SES on 132 500 for help removing it. You'll need to call a removal service for trees on your property that aren't likely to cause damage or aren't blocking access. The SES may also remove debris on your land if you need assistance or if the debris could damage your home or injure someone.
- Council clean-up — After severe weather or flooding from cyclones, your local council may offer a free debris/waste collection service.