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The floods across many states in recent months have caused immense damage to properties and lives. In coming days and weeks, affected state Governments are likely to produce information for all residents on how they would prefer people ‘return home’ and begin to deal with the damage to individual homes and business.
The following information is provided as a “guide only” for members to assist in returning to areas affected by a natural disaster or emergency to help them return to their communities in a safe, timely and orderly fashion. Below are a number of steps that should be considered to ensure a cautious approach and the effective delivery of support after an event has occurred.
Do not travel to the affected area until official notice has been provided that the area can be re-entered. Road congestion only blocks emergency service vehicles. A planned approach coordinated by the State Emergency Services (SES) and other emergency services in the initial stages of the return is necessary to provide coordinated and effective relief.
Buildings in affected areas will all be impacted in different ways. Some buildings will be completely destroyed; some will be partially damaged while others will be unaffected. Regardless of the external appearance of the building it is important to be aware of the possibility of collapse of weakened structures that are still standing. Buildings may also be impacted by fallen trees or other objects.
You must always be mindful that entering a damaged building is a risk and your movement in the building and anything you move or remove from the home may cause something that at first appeared safe, to become unsafe.
When in doubt about how safe the house is after flooding has occurred, be on the safe side and consult a professional.
Once it is safe to do so it’s useful to make a record of the property before, during and after the clean-up. Taking photographs and videos of the condition of the site and buildings noting both damage and debris, is an easy way to make a record before undertaking any repairs or restoration of the property.
Demolition of larger buildings and structures generally requires approval from local council and the work must be undertaken by appropriately licensed demolition contractors. Check with your local council and state WHS authority for further information if you are required to demolition any structures.
Rebuilding or repair work may not be able to undertaken immediately upon returning to homes particularly where significant damage has occurred or if say the house frame has been substantially impacted by the flooding.
State governments play an important role in setting rules for rebuilding work in relation to approval processes and building standards, so contacting your local council for the latest information can help avoid mistakes and ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
It is important to understand that older homes and buildings were built to different standards and new buildings will need to meet today’s requirements. This may change the cost of reconstruction and builders and property owners need to work together with the local council regarding what can be rebuilt on a property.
The normal rules regarding who can undertake residential building work, requiring contracts, insurance and licenses will continue to apply.
For Queensland please download a detailed breakdown of the permit requirements for rebuilding and repair work
When carrying out building work remember:
For information on flood and further Emergency information in your state visit:
www.qfes.qld.gov.au/about-us/frontline-services/state-emergency-service/ses-assistance
esa.act.gov.au/state-emergency-service
www.pfes.nt.gov.au/fire-and-rescue-service/fire-incident-map
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