Rain is a necessity for agriculture, and “Wet May” is especially crucial for thriving agricultural spaces across Australia. However, recent rainfall (both this year and in previous) has exceeded what’s expected of this time of year.
Queensland is the state with the highest disaster exposure in Australia. Although prone to such effects and severe flooding conditions, it has been especially affected this year with recorded falls of up to 240mm, leading to major flooding and damage to communities.
In one instance, students and teachers returning from a camping trip were trapped in extreme conditions and had to be rescued by local authorities. The State Emergency Service (SES) Assistant Commissioner, Dean Storey, says that despite the successful rescue, several recent flood rescues had major potential to end poorly.
Effects of inclement weather
When living in areas with seasonal inclement weather, insurance is critical. In March 2026, when flooding was rampant, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) strongly encouraged policyholders to file insurance claims as soon as possible. It recommended that individuals file regardless of how well they were able to estimate insurance damage or if there was uncertainty of coverage.
During this time, community safety was a priority and a Significant Event was declared.
Such a state is declared when there is an increase in claim numbers or if claims become more elaborate. In this case, Queensland Flooding had 2.9 thousand claims filed and $39.5 million claims incurred, with 32.4 million claims outstanding for a 16.3 per cent closed rate. Such data resulted in the need for a better assessment of insurance impact, hence the Significant Event declaration.
Repairs and renovations
While much of Queensland is not currently strong enough to withstand these harsh weather conditions, communities are encouraged to make renovations to their homes to better prepare for disasters. Wetproofing techniques are encouraged aid in protection against water exposure, leading to lessened damage and more efficient recovery.
Some examples of wetproofing include raising electrical switchboards and appliances and using water- and flood-resistant materials. Installing these materials can often be the most accessible, like replacing doors with solid timber or swing or wall-mounted sliding doors. Replacements like rigid installation, marine-grade plywood, tiles with epoxy grout, and others prove to be greatly effective and beneficial in these conditions.
While raising the home’s foundation level would require development approval, flood-resilient materials, which require no approval, making them more accessible and less expensive. Making this decision depends on the suitability of location, flood risk, home type, etc.
Recovery and risk management
Thankfully, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) has developed the Statewide Assessment of Flood Risk Factors (SAFRF), which essentially outlines Queensland’s strengths and weaknesses of flood risk management.
Flooding is the most damaging natural disaster in Queensland, thus specific guidelines towards flood management are not only in place, but are also constantly being developed. As outlined by the framework, the long-term vision includes understanding flood risk, developing accurate warnings of impending flooding, and mitigating and eliminating risks. To do this, it provides guidelines for leaders, including the roles and responsibilities of various organisations in cases of major flooding.
Queensland’s recovery plan is mainly focused on identifying individual responsibilities amidst disaster. For example, the plan outlines specific duties for the State Recovery Policy and Planning Coordinator (SRPPC) and the State Recovery Coordinator (SRC). Clarifying these roles leads to a smoother transition from rescue to recovery.
Available grants and funding
Although residents and businesses are encouraged to make flood-resilient upgrades, such improvements can get expensive. To aid in these endeavours and work towards active recovery, the Federal and Queensland Governments have contributed a total of $26.6 million, with an additional $38 million from the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments.
New measures were funded through the federal-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), splitting up funds to create available grants for impacted farmers, small businesses, psychosocial health and wellbeing initiatives, and a community relief fund. From the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments, $21.5 million was dedicated for Disaster Recovery Grants up to $75,000, available to primary producers in Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond, and Winton Shires. There was also a portion of funds dedicated towards repairs at the Cloncurry Airport to accommodate larger aircraft, thus increasing capacity. Additionally, this funding increased the Coordinated Emergency Fodder Support Package from $2 million to $7 million.
The National Australia Bank (NAB) also provided $1,000 Disaster Relief Grants to customers. However, applications for funding closed on the 9th of April.
If you like this story on flood recovery in Queensland, check out this other story on loans for farmers in need here.