Australian Flood & Severe Storm Preparation Checklist: 23 Items
Prepare for flood and severe-storm risks with local warnings, household evacuation arrangements and post-event safety checks.
Read Full Guide
What is Send Listy?
Create and organize your own lists. Start here, add or remove items, check off what matters, and share selections via WhatsApp or iMessage.
Make this checklist your own. Add what you need, edit what you like, and remove anything that doesnโt fit.
๐ก Check local hazards and warnings
Notes: Check council maps and state emergency service guidance for your actual location.
Check council maps and state emergency service guidance for your actual location.
Notes: Use current official weather and flood alerts, not historical forecast screenshots.
Use current official weather and flood alerts, not historical forecast screenshots.
Notes: Follow the state or territory's available warning channels and notification settings.
Follow the state or territory's available warning channels and notification settings.
Notes: Avoid roads that cross low-lying bridges or areas prone to flash flooding.
Avoid roads that cross low-lying bridges or areas prone to flash flooding.
Notes: Include transport, mobility equipment and medicine storage requirements.
Include transport, mobility equipment and medicine storage requirements.
Notes: Choose an out-of-area contact and practical ways to check in if networks fail.
Choose an out-of-area contact and practical ways to check in if networks fail.
๐ Protect people and property
Notes: Do not climb ladders in storms; arrange maintenance before the forecast severe weather.
Do not climb ladders in storms; arrange maintenance before the forecast severe weather.
Notes: Prioritise safety, documents and equipment without lifting dangerous loads.
Prioritise safety, documents and equipment without lifting dangerous loads.
Notes: Understand exclusions, excesses, claims contacts and contents documentation.
Understand exclusions, excesses, claims contacts and contents documentation.
Notes: Reduce windborne hazards while conditions remain safe for outdoor work.
Reduce windborne hazards while conditions remain safe for outdoor work.
Notes: Organise carriers, leads, vaccination documents and pet-friendly accommodation.
Organise carriers, leads, vaccination documents and pet-friendly accommodation.
Notes: Follow utility-provider and emergency-authority guidance; avoid wet electrical equipment.
Follow utility-provider and emergency-authority guidance; avoid wet electrical equipment.
๐ Pack and communicate
Notes: Use local SES emergency-kit guidance and account for personal dietary needs.
Use local SES emergency-kit guidance and account for personal dietary needs.
Notes: Include a battery or hand-crank radio if phone networks may fail.
Include a battery or hand-crank radio if phone networks may fail.
Notes: Keep sensitive originals and digital copies protected from water and unauthorised access.
Keep sensitive originals and digital copies protected from water and unauthorised access.
Notes: Share an agreed meeting place and timing for welfare calls.
Share an agreed meeting place and timing for welfare calls.
๐จ Respond and recover safely
Notes: Leave when directed and never delay to finish packing possessions.
Leave when directed and never delay to finish packing possessions.
Notes: Water depth, speed and submerged debris can be difficult to judge.
Water depth, speed and submerged debris can be difficult to judge.
Notes: Treat electrical hazards as live and notify the relevant emergency service or utility.
Treat electrical hazards as live and notify the relevant emergency service or utility.
Notes: Floodwater can conceal structural hazards and contamination.
Floodwater can conceal structural hazards and contamination.
Notes: Take photos once safe and keep all claim reference numbers securely.
Take photos once safe and keep all claim reference numbers securely.
Notes: Follow local public-health or water authority advice before using affected supplies.
Follow local public-health or water authority advice before using affected supplies.
Notes: Note route problems, stock shortages and lessons after the event.
Note route problems, stock shortages and lessons after the event.
Complete Guide
About this checklist and who it helps
This australian flood & severe storm preparation checklist is a practical guide for people in Australia. Australian severe storms may bring flash flooding, hail, damaging wind and prolonged outages. Check risks for the specific address, including nearby roads and the nearest route to higher ground.
Important requirements and local variations
The Bureau of Meteorology issues weather warnings, while state and territory emergency services provide local preparedness and response guidance. Prepare a simple kit, secure loose outdoor items when safe and plan for vulnerable members of the household.
Common mistakes and safety checks
Never walk or drive through floodwater. Some streets can become impassable even when a nearby home remains dry. Avoid downed power lines and wait for official re-entry advice after a major event.
How to work through the checklist
The interactive checklist follows stages such as โCheck local hazards and warningsโ, โProtect people and propertyโ and โPack and communicateโ. Use these to decide what must be prepared early, what needs a verified source or another person, and what can wait until later. Keep each item as a trackable task rather than copying the entire guide into the list.
Official references and further reading
These references are supplied with the checklist. Review the current page, effective date and jurisdiction before acting, because laws, service availability and warnings can change.
Final review and personal follow-up
Before treating this australian flood & severe storm preparation checklist as finished, revisit unchecked items and record whether they are completed, inapplicable or awaiting evidence. Keep private identifiers, tax records, medical details and other sensitive documents out of public notes. Check local state or territory authorities alongside federal information for location-specific rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Bureau of Meteorology warning an evacuation order?
Not automatically. Weather warnings and local emergency directions serve different purposes.
Why should I map more than one evacuation route?
Floodwater, fallen trees or emergency closures may block the usual road.
Is it safe to drive through shallow floodwater?
No. Water depth, current, debris and roadway damage may be hidden.
Suggested Sources
More than just a checklist
Ready to organize your way? Add this checklist to Send Listy and make it yours.
Use this checklist in Send Listy