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Queensland flood crisis - experts respond
Queensland flood crisis - experts respond
The most recent flash floods in Queensland, which started on Monday, have now claimed at least 10 lives, and left 56,000 properties without power. Ninety people are still missing, and evacuation warnings have been issued in Brisbane.
----------- Professor Ron Cox, of the UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is the Convenor of the Australian Climate Change Adaptation Research Network for Settlements and Infrastructure (ACCARNSI). He is also an expert commentator on safety of people and vehicles in floodwaters. He is the lead author on recent revisions to Australian Rainfall and Runoff, the guideline document of Engineers Australia for hydrology, water resources and flood design.
"The recent flood events in Queensland are a clear indication of the need for improved planning to adapt future development for our settlements and infrastructure. With expanding settlements, extreme weather resulting in emergency situations can be expected to become more frequent with higher temperatures and climate change." On the safety of people and vehicles moving through floodwaters:
"The combination of velocity and depth at which people and vehicles become unsafe is very low so the only practical advice is that people and vehicles should not enter flowing water of any depth. High velocity flows, even at ankle-depth, can knock a person off their feet and put their lives at risk. Vehicles are less safe than people in floodwaters. Generally a mature adult can walk in flowing water to a certain depth more safely than a vehicle can travel in it. Modern vehicles are so airtight that they float very easily." ----------- Dr Jane Shakespeare-Finch is a trauma expert from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
"The people in Toowoomba and neighbouring areas have had a terrifying time They had no way of picturing the momentum of the flash flood and no control of the elements. Now they need each other and community support. They need to feel safe and parents need to be able to keep hugging their kids. Those of us not affected can make themselves available with fresh water, food, shelter; the things needed for basic survival." ----------- Professor Michael Sherris, head of Actuarial Studies at the Australian School of Business is available for comment on the risk of catastrophes, and how it impacts on insurance premiums.
"As supply falls and demand increases, premiums increase. In this case demand is increasing due to the catastrophic events, and supply is falling due to capital constraints on insurers.
"Premiums reflect the underlying risks so that those with houses in flood or catastrophe prone areas will have relatively more expensive insurance. Recent reports, such as one by the ASIC that examined home insurance after the Canberra bushfires, show that Australian homeowners are under-insured. The ASIC report indicated that as many as 81 per cent of consumers have insufficient insurance coverage of at least 10 per cent for the costs of rebuilding their home."
ENDS
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