As Cyclone Alfred approaches, it’s natural to feel anxious, but staying calm and being prepared is the best way to protect yourself, your family and your property.

Service Updates from Burnie Brae

Your safety is our top priority. Due to Cyclone Alfred, Burnie Brae will be CLOSED on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the following services: Club Respite, Member Services (Events & Activities), Healthy Connections, Travel Connections and Community Transport. If your services are affected by this closure, our team will reach out as soon as possible.

For those receiving in-home care essential services, we’ll be in touch to make sure everything is arranged for your safety and wellbeing. If you have an concerns, please contact us.

Stay Informed

Tune into your local radio station: ABC Brisbane 612AM, 99.7FM or 101.5FM. Ensure you have spare batteries for your portable radio to stay informed during power outages.

Helpful Links
Stay up to date with the latest information and conditions in your area:

• Disaster dashboard: Brisbane City Council | City of Moreton Bay
• Weather Updates: monitor the local media and Bureau of Meteorology website
• Tropical Cyclone Alfred | Disaster Management | Queensland Government

Important Contacts

• Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance): 000
• State Emergency Service (SES): 132 500 or visit the website
• Energex (Power Outages): 13 19 62
• Health Advice: 13 43 25 84
• Metro North Hospitals: 07 3646 8111
• TMR Road Closures: 13 19 40 or visit the QLD Traffic website
• Water Utility Emergencies (Unitywater): 1300 086 489
• Animal Emergencies (RSPCA QLD): 1300 264 625
• Marine Rescue: 07 3408 7596
• Foodbank Queensland (Emergency Food Assistance): 1300 365 661
• Beyond Blue (Mental Health Support): 1300 224 636
• Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000
• Lifeline (Crisis Support): 13 11 14
• Translating & Interpreting Service: 13 14 50
• Emergency Alert Number: +61 444 444 444 - National Telephone Warning System sends emergency voice messages to landlines and text messages to mobiles within a specific area. Save this number as a contact to easily recognise emergency alerts.

Be Prepared

Before the cyclone:

• Secure outdoor items: Strong winds can turn outdoor furniture, tools, and debris into dangerous projectiles. Secure or move them indoors. This includes items like garden chairs, umbrellas and anything that can be blown away. Tie down sheds or other small structures not permanently fixed and secure caravans, boats and vehicles in your garage or tie them down to strong structures.
• Check roof & gutters: Inspect your roof for any loose tiles, and clear gutters and drains to prevent blockages that could lead to flooding.
• Trim trees & branches: Trim back any overhanging branches near your home that could fall under the weight of high winds.
• Check & secure electrical appliances: unplug non-essential devices to prevent power surges. Ensure outdoor powerpoints/cables are waterproofed and secure. Know the location of your switchboard and familiarise yourself with how to turn off the power during an emergency.
• Green waste drop off is available for free in Brisbane - find out more.
  
• Sandbags: Visit Brisbane City Council or City of Moreton Bay for a list of current collection sites.
  
• Medical equipment: People who rely on electrically powered medical equipment need to consider their Plan B, if their power is out. Learn more.

• Emergency kit: Ensure your kit has everything you might need. Items to include are water, non-perishable food, medications, a first aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries and essential documents. Get Ready Queensland's Emergency Kit Checklist. Keep phones, power banks and torches charged.
  
  Headphones, white noise playlists can be hand for sensory overload.
  
• Plan for pets: Keep them sheltered. Ensure they have their own emergency kit, including food, water, bowls, leash, harness, toys, any medications and that their registration and microchipping details are up to date.
• Vehicles: Fuel your car and park it undercover or cover it with tied tarpaulins/blankets.
• Kerbside bin collection: Brisbane City Council have advised that bin collections for Brisbane residents will be reduced to red bins only tomorrow. Wednesday 5 March. Bin collections will be suspended entirely from Thursday. City of Moreton Bay - there will be no kerbside collection services on Thursday and Friday, but catch-up collections will be scheduled next week when conditions allow. Please make sure your bins are removed and secured as soon as possible before conditions worsen.
• Evacuation Centres: Make note of your closest evacuation centre in case you are advised to seek shelter. It will be announced on local ABC radio (ABC frequency finder) and other media.
  
  Brisbane City Council has opened a temporary Refuge Shelter for residents needing to leave their properties due to the cyclone impacts at the RNA Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills. Refuge Centres for those residing in Moreton Bay can be found here. Make sure you check current alerts and road conditions, plan your journey and check for shelter updates.

During the cyclone:

• Stay away from windows & doors: The strongest winds and flying debris can cause serious harm, so avoid windows, glass doors, and any other areas that could be damaged by the cyclone.
• Stay in the strongest area of your home : If possible, move to a small, windowless room like a bathroom or internal hallway, which will offer the most protection from winds. Use mattresses and blankets to protect yourself.
• Emergency kit on-hand: Make sure to have this with you as it will be your lifeline during and after the cyclone, with the food, water and other items you will need.
• Listen for updates: Even if it seems like the cyclone has passed, stay indoors and continue monitoring weather updates. Cyclones can have an "eye" that might bring calm weather before the storm resumes.
• Self-evacuate: If you live in an older property, or are not comfortable sheltering at home, have an arrangement to stay with family or friends.
• Turn off the power if your home is flooding
• Treat fallen powerlines as dangerous: Any fallen powerlines or network damage can be hazardous. Report it immediately to Energex (13 19 62), stay well clear and warn others to stay away too.
• Avoid using landline phones or taps: During a severe storm, avoid using a landline telephone or taps. Lightning can travel down phone lines and plumbing, posing a danger.
• Food safety: If you lose power during the cyclone, keep your fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Foods, liquids or medicines that have come into contact with contaminated floodwater can make you sick and should be thrown out. Refrigerated food can be kept in a closed fridge for about 4 hours and frozen food in the freezer for 24 hours. If in doubt, throw it out.
• The eye: The centre, or 'eye' of the cyclone, is a period when conditions may ease. If the wind drops, the cyclone is not over. Violent winds will soon resume from another direction. Wait for the official 'all clear' and stay safe inside.

After the cyclone:

• Check for water damage: If water has event power outlets, do NOT turn them on.
• Inspect for exposed or fallen wires: Stay away and contact an electrician if you notice any damage.
  
• Use generators safety: Keep generators outside, away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Stay indoors: Wait until authorities give all clear to leave your home. Do not turn on electricity, gas or water until suppliers have advised it is safe to do so.
• Leaving home: If you need to leave for any reason, be careful of debris and fallen power lines, and avoid flood water which could be contaminated with chemicals or sewerage.
• Recovery hubs: Government agencies, insurance companies and other support services such as the Red Cross, will come together for residents to access. Locations will be announced when hubs are opened.
• If you were required to evacuate and are wanting to return home: Emergency services will conduct Rapid Damage Assessments of properties and advise residents when it is safe to return to their homes. Do not return to your home until you have been advised it is safe.

Stay safe and look after each other.

- The Burnie Brae Team