The Queensland State Disaster Management Plan (QSDMP) is primarily intended for disaster management stakeholders within the state of Queensland. This QSDMP establishes the framework, arrangements and practices that enable disaster management in Queensland. It includes guidance for disaster management stakeholders through the provision of commentary and directions to supporting documents such as plans, strategies or guidelines. The plan highlights significant elements of disaster management which are important to all Queenslanders.
Queensland State Disaster Management Plan (2018) (PDF, 6.8 MB)
2023 State Disaster Risk Report
Under the Queensland State Disaster Management Plan, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is responsible for the development of a state level disaster risk assessment.
It is intended that updates to the State Disaster Risk Report occur as new data and information becomes available and to consider emerging threats to the state’s disaster risk.
This 2023 Report is an update to the 2021/22 Report focused on three key aspects:
- to respond to the recommendation from the IGEM South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding February to March 2022 Review to re-evaluate flood risk from all types of flooding,
- to incorporate new bushfire systems and data not available at the time of the 2021/22 Report, and
- to enhance the critical infrastructure failure chapter.
This report improves Queensland's understanding of disaster risk and provides information for all entities with disaster management responsibilities to support decision making. As with previous Reports, the 2023 State Disaster Risk Report uses the Queensland Emergency Risk Management Framework (QERMF) to assess these risks.
As with the 2021/22 State Disaster Risk Report, the 2023 Report provides an assessment of State-wide risk for ten hazards, two compound or cascading hazards, and a range of risk drivers. The 2023 Report also provides information on future climate and how this may impact future disaster risk for the State. The report advises decision-makers at all levels to consider the changing face of risk due to climate change, and to adjust their long-term disaster risk reduction planning where appropriate.
2023 State Disaster Risk Report: Executive Summary (PDF, 12.3 MB)
2023 State Disaster Risk Report (PDF, 19.1 MB)
Previous State Disaster Risk Assessments
2021/22 State Disaster Risk Report: Executive Summary (PDF, 5.7 MB)
2021/22 State Disaster Risk Report (PDF, 19.4 MB)
Queensland State Natural Hazard Risk Assessment 2017 (PDF, 16.9 MB)
State Heatwave Risk Assessment
The Queensland State Heatwave Risk Assessment 2019 (SHRA) represents the most comprehensive analysis of future climate risk undertaken for a natural hazard risk assessment in Queensland. It is underpinned by a robust scientific basis, enabling all stakeholders including State agencies, disaster management groups, infrastructure owners and town planners to understand, plan for, and reduce the risk from heatwaves.
The summer of 2018-19 was the hottest on record for Australia. The extreme heatwaves and bushfires that occurred across Queensland are a clear indication that we are facing unprecedented challenges in understanding and responding to the impacts of natural hazards in a changing climate.
The SHRA was developed to provide all stakeholders with clear and consistent information regarding the changing nature of heatwave risk in Queensland. It was a collaborative effort between multiple stakeholders, coordinated through a working group led by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), Queensland Health (QH), and the Department of Environment and Science (DES).
The inclusion of long-term climate change projections within the assessment represents a first for hazard specific, emergency management related risk assessments in Australia. This robust scientific basis enhances the assessment and enables State agencies and disaster management groups to inform their planning against current and future heatwave risk.
QFES Heatwave Projections (PDF, 861.4 KB)
(PDF, 14.8 MB)
Queensland State Heatwave Risk Assessment (PDF, 14.8 MB)
Queensland State Heatwave Risk Assessment - Executive Summary (PDF, 3.6 MB)
State Earthquake Risk Assessment
The Queensland State Earthquake Risk Assessment 2019 (SERA) and companion Tsunami Guide for Queensland were developed to provide a comprehensive overview of earthquake and tsunami risk for the State. Detailed analysis of these hazards understandably requires a high level of technical expertise, so Queensland Fire and Emergency Services partnered with Geoscience Australia to help contextualise the findings of the National Seismic Hazard Assessment 2018 and the Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Assessment 2018. Additional expertise was also drawn from Queensland Department of Environment and Science’s Coastal Impacts Unit, and The University of Queensland’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, who provided the Queensland context for each hazard.
The SERA has included occurrence probabilities for several timeframes for each source zone in Queensland, for a magnitude 5.35 (1989 Newcastle event) and 6.05 (1918 Gladstone event) earthquake. This is to highlight the significant difference in occurrence probabilities between these two events, as well as highlighting the need to consider seismic activity in long-term planning decisions.
A key finding of the SERA is that the highest risk in Queensland encompasses a large area in the State’s south east, from Gladstone in the north to Logan and Scenic Rim in the south, and from the coast across to the Burnett and Western Downs regions. This considers the probability of earthquake occurrence in these areas, as well as the density of population, infrastructure, and economic activity in the area.
(PDF, 8.9 MB)
State Earthquake Risk Assessment (PDF, 8.9 MB)
State Earthquake Risk Assessment - Executive Summary (PDF, 3.9 MB)
Earthquake Risk for Queensland: Webinar 2 June 2022
(PDF, 5.7 MB)
Tsunami Guide for Queensland 2019 (PDF, 5.7 MB)
Tsunami Risk for Queensland: Webinar 1 April
Severe Wind Hazard Assessment for Queensland
The Severe Wind Hazard Assessment for Queensland - SWHA(Q), was delivered as a collaborative project between Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES), James Cook University and Geoscience Australia (GA).
Developed in response to the 2017 Cyclone Debbie Review, the projects core aim was to provide realistic and tangible information on the potential physical impacts of tropical cyclones on Queensland communities.
The suite of hazard management tools delivered through the project will enable the emergency management sector, local governments, and communities across Queensland to more effectively work through current and future risks posed by cyclones, including long-term strategic risk management strategies.
UPDATE 28 October 2022: The Severe Wind Hazard Assessment Executive Summary, Technical Report One and Technical Report Two have been updated to incorporate an improved understanding of the wind hazard which has resulted from the current Severe Wind Hazard Assessment for South East Queensland project
Severe Wind Hazard Assessment for Queensland - Factsheet (PDF, 372.4 KB)
Executive Summary (PDF, 5.3 MB)
Technical report one (PDF, 11.1 MB)
Technical report two (PDF, 4.2 MB)
Queensland Government's Tropical Cyclone Hazard Dashboard enables users to interactively query the current and future risk of severe winds related to tropical cyclones across Queensland's regions and communities.
Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide (PDF, 5.1 MB)
Videos
Severe Wind Hazard Report NQ
Severe Wind Hazard Report SQ
UPDATE 23 DECEMBER 2022: The Severe Wind Hazard Assessment for South East Queensland (SWHA-SEQ) project was developed following the conclusion of the Severe Wind Hazard Assessment for Queensland acknowledging the heightened risk in the South East Queensland region given the high exposure (large and growing population) and vulnerability associated with the building design standards for this region.
The project was a collaboration between six local government areas (Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Redlands and Gold Coast), Queensland State Government (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Department of Energy and Public Works, Department of Environment and Science, Department of State Development, Local Government and Planning, and Queensland Reconstruction Authority) Insurance Council of Australia, Insurance Australia Group Ltd, Suncorp, James Cook University Cyclone Testing Station, the University of Queensland and Geoscience Australia.
The project was delivered by the Geoscience Australia led research team including James Cook University Cyclone Testing Station and the University of Queensland.
SWHA-SEQ Technical Report
Emergency Management Sector Adaptation Plan (EM-SAP) for Climate Change
As a part of the Queensland Government's climate change response, QFES has led the development of a Sector Adaptation Plan for Climate Change in partnership with the Department of Environment and Science and the National Climate Change Adaptation Facility. The plan outlines a vision, principles and a series of priorities that intend to guide sector climate change adaptation activities and planning to ensure that it is fully engaged with the risks and opportunities of a changing climate.
Factsheets
EM-SAP (PDF, 415.4 KB)
Climate change (PDF, 352.7 KB)
The Plan
Executive summary (PDF, 1 MB)
Full version (PDF, 3.3 MB)
EM-SAP by section below:
The science of climate change (PDF, 1 MB)
Why is climate change important to the sector (PDF, 554.4 KB)
Sector examples of climate adaptation (PDF, 688.1 KB)
Glossary (PDF, 394.3 KB)
Appendices (PDF, 862.8 KB)
