The intense storm that swept across the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday led to scores of flooded homes and resulted in one couple being rescued by a swiftwater rescue crew.
The severe weather system dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain on parts of the region within a few hours, causing flash flooding at properties and on roads.
There were 147 requests for help, made to the State Emergency Service. About 100 of those calls were for flooded and flood-threatened homes, while some were for leaking roofs and for assistance along roads.
Sunshine Coast SES controller Brendan Casement said 75 SES members and half a dozen Rural Fire Service members kicked into action to help locals.
“We had volunteers working from before 9am to 11pm and then they came back the next day to finish the job,” he said.
“They did a great job. They came across a lot of homes being inundated with water.
“A few of the homes had water going right through the whole house, ankle deep and slightly higher in some areas.
“The people that were affected, it ranged from water all the way through their house, to people who had water approaching their back door and they were getting on the front foot and putting in sandbags to try and hold the water back.”
Most incidents were at Caloundra, where the cell hovered before moving north.
“It was a slow weather front and it dumped a lot of water in one area, before it went through Kawana and Maroochydore,” Mr Casement said.
“The water came up very quickly but we were lucky enough that once the rain backed off the water receded very quickly as well.”
Two Sunshine Coast residents required rescuing by the Fire and Rescue Service.
Three crews, including a swiftwater rescue unit, attended the scene at Buderim, where an elderly couple and their vehicle were stuck in floodwaters.
Crews helped the pair from their car, near Harrys Lane and Lindsay Road, and took them to safety.
Mr Casement said heavy rainfall can quickly lead to potential disaster.
“From Moreton Bay to the Sunshine Coast, we received a massive deluge of water,” he said.
“Water can come up quickly and that’s when people can’t get out and the swift water rescue guys have to go in and rescue them in the floodwaters.”
Mr Casement said locals should be on guard for extreme weather.
“The key thing is being prepared for any sort of (wild) weather that comes along,” he said.
“We’ve already seen two cyclones hit northern Queensland, with the threat of the weather affecting the Sunny Coast (this summer),” he said.
“Cleaning out your gutters is a big one.
“A leaking roof is caused by gutters being blocked up by leaves.
“Keeping the valleys of the roofs clear is also important, and unblocking drains around the home will help the water get away.
“People can also trim trees that overhang their houses.”
He said victims of wild weather can call on the SES.
“If you think you need assistance, call 132 500 and log in a job and the SES can come out and sandbag your doorways or anything like that, but demand can be quite high, and it can take some time to get around to all residents,” he said.
“People who are capable can attend one of our facilities and pick up sandbags, which allows our volunteers to concentrate on the most vulnerable.”
Mr Casement reminded drivers to stay safe.
“We’re emphasising that if the roads are flooded, forget it,” he said.
“It creates a dangerous situation for locals and for rescuers who must get them out of cars.
“The smallest amount of water across the road can be enough to lift the heaviest four-wheel-drive.
“Regardless of how deep the water is you don’t know what the road condition is like underneath the water. It could be washed out. “
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