Floods

Floods are a natural occurrence across Australia, flooding can cause significant damage and inevitably happens from time to time in our river systems, natural drainage and constructed drainage systems. Floods can severely disrupt communities, causing loss of life, personal hardship, property damage, and agricultural and stock losses.

Majority of the Loddon Shire is on a flood plain and therefore the impact of flooding within the Shire can be significant with up to 70% of the Shire being impacted during large-scale flood events

In riverine flooding, relatively high water levels overtop the natural or artificial banks of a stream or river. The nature of riverine flooding can vary significantly in terms of cause, timing and depth between different locations. Coastal rivers with short, steep headwaters often have floods that rise and recede quickly. Inland floods with low gradients have floods that move slowly down the river, sometimes lasting for several months.

Flash flooding occurs when soil absorption, runoff or drainage cannot adequately disperse intense rainfall, and is usually caused by slow-moving thunderstorms. Flash floods are generally defined as developing in six hours or less from rainfall to the onset of flooding.

While floods can happen quickly, there are a number of things we recommend you consider when preparing for floods.

For further information about floods, please visit the SES Website

For information on insurance, please visit Insurance Council of Australia