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, 13 MB)
2023 State Disaster Risk Report(PDF, 20 MB)
Previous State Disaster Risk Assessments
2021/22 State Disaster Risk Report: Executive Summary(PDF, 6 MB)
2021/22 State Disaster Risk Report(PDF, 20 MB)
Queensland State Natural Hazard Risk Assessment 2017(PDF, 17 MB)
Critical Infrastructure Disaster Risk Assessment
The Critical Infrastructure Disaster Risk Assessment (CInDRA) was developed as a detailed assessment of the critical infrastructure failure chapter of the State Disaster Risk Report (SDRR) and is a new product development by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. The CInDRA is Queensland’s first state-wide critical infrastructure disaster risk assessment and was conducted in consultation with state government, local government, critical infrastructure operators and subject matter experts.
The intent of the report is to provide advice to agencies and organisations at all levels of Queensland’s disaster management arrangements, especially when they are undertaking disaster risk assessments. The CInDRA focuses on general trends and risks for critical infrastructure, it is not intended to be detailed and does not provide asset-level risk information.Local and district disaster management groups may use the CInDRA to understand how the risks may manifest at the scale most appropriate to them.
The CInDRA assesses climate and disaster risk for four critical infrastructure sectors: energy, water, transport, and communications.The assessment considers risks to these four sectors from all ten hazards in the SDRR with the addition of cybersecurity and space weather as these are recognised for creating significant risk within the critical infrastructure sectors.
While the risks within the CInDRA may seem easily apparent, this is the first iteration of a state-wide critical infrastructure disaster risk assessment for Queensland.The consideration of risk across the four sectors brings a shared understanding within and across sectors, acknowledging the interdependencies which exacerbate risk.This also highlights opportunities for research and development to advance efforts in critical infrastructure resilience, and to improve community outcomes during and after an event.
Critical Infrastructure Disaster Risk Assessment - Executive Summary (PDF, 3 MB)
Critical Infrastructure Disaster Risk Assessment - Report (PDF, 9.5 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, 862 KB)
Queensland State Heatwave Risk Assessment(PDF, 15 MB)
Queensland State Heatwave Risk Assessment - Executive Summary(PDF, 4 MB)
State Earthquake Risk Assessment and Tsunami Guide for Queensland
Originally published in 2019, the State Earthquake Risk Assessment (SERA) and companion Tsunami Guide for Queensland have been updated in 2024 to improve the information informing risk-based disaster management and business continuity plans at all levels of Queensland’s Disaster Management Arrangements. Detailed analysis of these hazards requires a high level of technical expertise. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services partnered with Geoscience Australia, the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, The University of Queensland, and The University of Newcastle to undertake the update.
Some of the key updates of the SERA include:
- The inclusion of the new National Seismic Hazard Assessment 2023.
- New research re-evaluating the magnitude 6.0 Great Queensland earthquake from 1918.
- Review of past earthquake events and the inclusion of more Australian impacts, highlighting the significant impacts it can have on critical infrastructure, as well as the need to consider seismic activity in long-term planning decisions.
- More information on the services available from Geoscience Australia, including Earthquakes@GA, FeltGrids and ShakeMap products to improve awareness and inform risk planning.
A key finding of the 2019 SERA, which remains in the 2024 version, identified the area of highest earthquake risk In Queensland. This 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 assessment considers the probability of earthquake occurrence in these areas, as well as the density of population, infrastructure, and economic activity in the area.
The Tsunami Guide for Queensland has also been updated and provides updated information on tsunami risk for Queensland, and analysis of events such as the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption.
State Earthquake Risk Assessment 2024 (PDF, 6.1 MB)
State Earthquake Risk Assessment 2024 - Executive Summary (PDF, 3.1 MB)
Tsunami Guide for Queensland 2024 (PDF, 14 MB)
Tsunami Risk for Queensland: Webinar 1 April
Earthquake Risk for Queensland: Webinar 2 June
Tsunami are a rare but significant threat to Queensland’s coastal communities. This interactive Statewide mapping of tsunami evacuation areas can be used by all disaster management stakeholders to enhance warnings and risk informed planning for local communities.
This mapping was a collaboration between QFES, local governments, and partners at the Queensland Police Service, Department of Environment and Science, Geoscience Australia, and the NSW State Emergency Service. It identifies broad areas that should be evacuated in the event of a land inundation threat from tsunami, and also includes information on key exposures within these areas.
Tsunami evacuation areas for Queensland
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.
Severe Wind Hazard Assessment for Queensland - Factsheet(PDF, 373 KB)
Technical report one(PDF, 12 MB)
Technical report two(PDF, 5 MB)
Queensland Government'sTropical 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, 6 MB)
Videos
Severe Wind Hazard Assessment for South East Queensland
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.
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. This Sector Adaptation Plan has now been inincorporated into the DM PPRR Guideline and therefore now can be considered a background resource.
Factsheets
EM-SAP(PDF, 416 KB)
The Plan
Executive summary(PDF, 1 MB)
EM-SAP by section below:
The science of climate change(PDF, 1 MB)
Why is climate change important to the sector(PDF, 555 KB)
