Storm season in south-east Queensland runs roughly from October to March, with severe storms bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and sometimes hail. A bit of yard preparation in late winter and spring reduces the chance of damage, flooding around the house and a big clean-up afterwards.
Here's a practical checklist for Moreton Bay homes. For household emergency planning, Get Ready Queensland and the SES have more detailed advice.
Gutters and downpipes
- Clean gutters and check that downpipes flow freely
- Clear leaves from roof valleys and box gutters
- Check that downpipes drain away from the house and aren't blocked at ground level
- Look for sagging or rusted gutters and get them repaired before the rain
See our guide on how often to clean gutters in Brisbane.
Trees, hedges and shrubs
- Cut back branches and shrubs touching the roof, gutters, walls and windows
- Look for dead, cracked or hanging branches in trees near the house
- Have large or damaged trees checked by a qualified arborist
- Keep growth well clear of powerlines, and never try to trim near them yourself
Loose items and green waste
- Clear piles of green waste, branches and palm fronds, which can become projectiles in strong winds
- Store or tie down outdoor furniture, trampolines, bins and pot plants
- Remove dead palm fronds and seed heads that could fall
- Put away tools, ladders and anything that could blow around
Drainage around the house
- Make sure water drains away from the house and not towards the slab
- Clear leaf litter and debris from surface drains, grates and spoon drains
- Keep garden beds, mulch and soil below the weep holes
- Check low-lying areas that pool after rain, especially on the flats near the rivers
After a storm
Stay well away from fallen powerlines, at least eight metres, and report them to Energex straight away. Don't try to remove branches tangled in wires or hanging from trees; that's a job for Energex or an arborist.
Once it's safe, clear fallen branches, leaves and debris from the ground, check gutters and downpipes again, and look for any damage to the roof or fences. Photograph damage before cleaning up if you might claim on insurance.
Why preparation pays off
Most storm damage around the home comes from a few predictable things: blocked gutters overflowing, branches hitting the roof, loose items blowing into windows and fences, and water pooling against the house. Each of these is cheap to fix in advance and expensive to fix after the fact.
Getting the work done in late winter or early spring also avoids the rush. Once the first big storm hits, tree services, roofers and gutter cleaners are booked out for weeks.
Extra steps for bushland properties
Homes on the bush edge in suburbs like Cashmere, Ferny Hills and Joyner face both storms and bushfire risk. Clearing dry leaf litter from gutters, around the house and under decks, keeping grass short near buildings, and cutting back shrubs from walls and windows all help with both. Your local fire brigade and the Queensland Fire Department can give advice specific to your property.
Questions we get asked
When should I prepare my yard for storm season?
Late winter to early spring (August to October) is ideal, before the storm season builds.
Who removes a tree that's fallen on my house?
A qualified arborist or tree service, and your insurer should be contacted first. If powerlines are involved, call Energex.
Want help getting ready?
We clean gutters, cut back overhanging growth and clear green waste so your yard is ready before the storms.
- Gutter Cleaning: Gutters and downpipes cleared of leaves and debris before storm season, so water drains away from the house.
- Green Waste Removal: Yard clean-ups and green waste removal: branches, prunings, palm fronds, leaves and storm debris taken away.
- Hedge Trimming: Clean, even hedge trimming and shrub pruning for privacy screens, formal hedges and overgrown boundaries.