What are floods and cyclones?

Floods and cyclones are types of natural disasters that are unfortunately a part of life in Australia.

A flood is any overflow of water onto dry land. Flooding can be very dangerous and poses significant health risks, including death.

Types of flooding include:

• Flooding when rivers or creeks overflow onto land that is normally dry, after heavy rainfall.
• Flooding due to very high tides occurring in coastal areas.
• Flash flooding from relatively short, intense bursts of rainfall.

Cyclones form from a cluster of thunderstorms and can cause damage from:

• extreme winds
• heavy rainfall
• storm surges

The official tropical cyclone season in the Australian region runs from November to April. Cyclones occur in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and in Queensland.

Floods and cyclones can be associated with health risks that include injuries, infections and not being able to get your medicines.

Cyclones may also be called hurricanes or typhoons depending on the country they occur in.

What health risks result from floods and cyclones?

Floods and cyclones can bring with them many different health risks, for example:

• falls and injuries
• drownings
• infections
• difficulty getting your medicines
• animal bites from snakes or spiders
• illness from contaminated food or water

Here are some of the risks and how to protect yourself.

Contaminated floodwater

Contaminated floodwater and mud can carry an increased risk of wound infections, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, ear, nose and throat infections and other infections such as melioidosis.

Food, liquids or medicines that have come into contact with contaminated floodwater can also make you ill.

Tips to help you stay safe:

• Avoid walking or wading through floodwater or mud if you can because it may be contaminated by sewage and debris. This is particularly important for people prone to infections, including people with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, lung disease and kidney disease. Other people at high-risk include those with alcohol dependencies or on steroid treatments.
• Avoid contact with any floodwater if you have broken skin or any wounds.
• Wash your hands with soap and water or a hand sanitiser after having contact with damaged material, floodwater or mud, before preparing or eating food, and when going to the toilet.
• Throw out any medicines that may have had contact with floodwater.
• Dispose of any food that has come into contact with floodwater, and any food that has spoiled.
• Contact your local council to check if the local water supply is contaminated. If in doubt, boil all drinking water before use.

Loss of medicines

Your medicines are important for your health — even during a natural disaster. If you need to evacuate your home and it's safe to do so, pack your medicines, prescriptions, healthcare cards and your doctors' contact details.

If possible, prepare an emergency kit in advance, so you can be ready for this situation.

Tips for managing your medicines in an emergency:

• Try to keep refrigerated medicines cold by using instant ice packs or water-activated cold bags. Be aware some medicines can become ineffective or harmful if frozen. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
• If your medicine needs to be stored in a fridge but has been unrefrigerated for a while, it should be safely discarded and replaced. If the medicine is essential (for example, insulin), you can continue to use it until a new supply is available — check with a pharmacist first if you can.
• Safely dispose of any medicines that have been contaminated by floodwater as they may be polluted by sewage and other wastes or chemicals, which can make you sick. You can also ask your pharmacist to safely dispose of a medicine.
• If you don't have your medicines or need to replace them, call your doctor and ask them to send a new prescription to your nearest pharmacist. If you're not able to contact your doctor and urgently need your medicines, a pharmacist may be able to help you get them during emergencies, such as natural disasters.
• If you are in a designated disaster area, you can access telehealth services from a GP. These services are subsidised by Medicare.

Call Medicines Line on 1300 633 424 (1300 MEDICINE) for information on prescription, over-the-counter and other medicines (including complementary and alternative medicines). Calls are answered by registered pharmacists.

Injuries

Extreme weather like cyclones and floods can cause hazards, such as slippery surfaces, objects underwater, hidden debris, trees, or objects blown by wind. These can cause serious injuries or even death.

Tips to help you stay safe:

• Seek assistance, for example, from your state or territory emergency service (SES), if cleaning up after the flood or cyclone is too big a task for you to manage.
• Consider using a walking pole, such as a broom handle, a stick or something similar, to guide you safely around. Muddy surfaces can be very slippery and result in falls that can cause injuries.
• If you get any cuts, abrasions or other wounds, rinse them with clean water, and cover with a dressing. See your doctor or a local health clinic if you have a cut or wound that becomes dirty, red or sore, or if it is deep.

Seek medical advice to check if you need a tetanus booster, especially if your wound is dirty or deep, or if your last tetanus booster was more than 5 years ago.

Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if you lost consciousness (even briefly), are unable to get up, or are suffering severe pain. If triple zero (000) does not work on your mobile phone, try dialling 112.

Animal bites

Watch out for snakes or spiders that may be in your house or among the debris after a flood or cyclone.

Some snake bites and spider bites may be life-threatening, such as those from brown snakes or funnel-web spiders.

If you are bitten by a life-threatening snake or spider, follow these steps:

• Keep still and call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. If calling triple zero (000) does not work on your mobile phone, try dialling 112.
• Do NOT wash, clean, suck or cut the bitten area.
• Apply a bandage as firmly as possible along the full length of the affected arm or leg and immobilise the limb with a splint.
• If you do not have a bandage, cover the area with a clean and dry dressing, or use clothing or other material.
• Mark on the bandage the time of the bite and when the bandage was put on.
• If the bite is not on the limb, apply firm, direct pressure on the area of the bite.
• Lie still and wait for the ambulance.

If you live in far north Queensland or areas known to have crocodiles, be aware that they could turn up in unexpected places.

Tips to help you stay safe:

• Be aware of all waterways and not just those with crocodile warning signs.
• Avoid using canoes and kayaks.
• Stand back from the water's edge.
• Never provoke, harass or feed crocodiles.
• Report all crocodile sightings to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation by using the Qwildlife app, online or by calling 1300 130 372 (Select option 1).

If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

Mosquito-borne infections

Floodwaters and pooling water from heavy rainfall provide perfect conditions for mosquito breeding. This can lead to outbreaks of mosquito-borne infections.

Tips to help you stay safe:

• Use personal insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin.
• Use mosquito nets at night if possible.
• Use fly spray, mosquito coils or plug-in repellents.
• Wear long, loose light-coloured clothing.

Tips on how to reduce mosquitos around your house:

• Repair or fit insect screens if required.
• Drain areas in and around yards and workplaces where water has built up.
• Empty all containers after it rains, including buckets, tyres, birdbaths and pot plant holders, to reduce areas where mosquitoes can breed.
• Check water tank screens and replace them if required.

Weather-related risks

It's important to look after yourself, whatever the weather conditions.

Tips to help you stay safe:

• Wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses to help protect yourself from sunburn.
• Drink plenty of water if it's hot, even if you are not thirsty, and keep yourself cool in hot weather to help prevent dehydration and other heat related conditions.
• Keep warm if it is cold to help protect against chilblains.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

You could experience carbon monoxide poisoning if you use a petrol-powered generator or pump in a confined space, or an area with poor ventilation.

Tips to help you stay safe:

• Ensure generators and pumps are situated in well-ventilated areas, preferably outside.
• Maintain generations and pumps well, and be sure to service them based on the manufacturer's instructions.

Take care when cleaning up

Tips to help you stay safe:

• Take your time to clean up when it is all over. Remember to look after your health — take frequent breaks, protect yourself from sunburn and drink plenty of water.
• Seek special advice from your local council about cleaning up asbestos and sanitising rainwater tanks.
• Do not use swimming pools contaminated by floodwaters until the water has been tested and the pool has been thoroughly cleaned.
• Be aware of fallen electricity wires, especially if they are near or under water. Report fallen wires to your local emergency services.
• Be careful when operating chainsaws and other equipment for clearing vegetation. Wear protective clothing and do not handle the equipment if it's wet.

Resources and support

For emergency help in floods and storms, contact your state or territory emergency service (SES) on 132 500. You can also call SES if there is:

• serious damage to your home
• property at risk of flooding
• a tree that has fallen on your car or home

SES volunteers assist in a wide range of emergencies, and provide support during times of crisis. If you're caught in an emergency situation, call on the SES in your state or territory.

• Australian Capital Territory SES
• New South Wales SES
• Northern Territory Emergency Services (NTES)
• Queensland SES
• Tasmania SES
• Victoria SES
• Western Australia SES

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 to talk to a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).

Learn how to protect your health from the effects of climate change.

For advice from your state or territory authority on cyclones and floods, go to:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Do you prefer another language to English?

The Victorian Government has fact sheets for important information and what to do after a flood in a range of community languages.

St John Ambulance Australia publishes detailed first aid fact sheets in English and other community languages.