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I think that this session was a really good way to bring people to have these discussions which we normally wouldn't have. Flood risks can not be identified or given thought too as many people tend to not pay attention to these things especially when they live in areas where floods are uncommon. This session helped me brainstorm and get knowledge on how to be prepared for a flood and how to help our society be ready and take caution for flood risks.

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What is your name?

What is your age?

Where are you located? (with post code)

What is your educational background?

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What are the first steps we could bring these solutions to a reality?

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My name is Neha Srinivasan

I am 22 years old

I live in Southport , Gold Coast QLD Australia 4215

I am a third year student studying Bachelor's of Nursing

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My name is Cheryl

I am 20 years old

I live in Burpengary East 4505

I am doing my third year in Bachelors of computer science

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My name is Shafaq Laraib

I am 22 years old

I live in Helensvale, Gold Coast QLD Australia 4212

I am a second year student studying Bachelor Of Nursing

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Gold coast is prone to riverine flooding during heavy rainfall due to several rivers such as Coomera and Nerang river.

As Gold coast is a coastal city, it is also prone to coastal flooding , particularly during high tides and heavy persistent rainfall.

In hilly terrains such as the Hinterland area, heavy rainfall can also contribute to landslides.

Flooding can have a detrimental impact on road closures and transportation - heavily impacting emergency services.

It also poses a massive health and safety risk due to carrying contaminants leading to water borne diseases.

It also results in accidents such as drowning and other fatalities.

In areas with undersized draining systems, heavy rainfall can overwhelm the system thus leasing to flooding specially in urban areas.

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Property damages - Floods can cause damages to a lot of property especially ones surrounded or which are close to large bodies of water that can easily build up and get flooded.

Blocked drains - inadequate maintenance, debris blockage, old drains that have not been redesigned for heavy rains and floods.

Heavy rains and floods can ruin our ecosystem. Especially since Australia is surrounded with trees, agriculture etc.

Electricity and network lines- These often get damaged by floods or heavy rainfall causing power outages and blackouts etc.

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Sudden and intense rainfall can be of of the risks that leads to flash floods, which can occur very quickly and with little warning. These floods are hazardous in specifically in hilly or mountainous areas, where water rapidly flows downhill, destroying property and risking lives.

Heavy rainfall can also saturate soil, leading to landslides in areas like the Tamborine mountains with unstable terrain for example hilly regions or places with steep slopes, where rain can destabilize the ground.

Flooding can also damage infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and power lines, while also disrupting essential services like transportation, electricity, and emergency response.

Another risk would be inadequate drainage systems that would lead to flooding in streets, homes, and businesses. This would be common in areas with little trees and green space to absorb rainwater.

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Lack of awareness - People may underestimate the severity or likelihood of floods.

In areas where flooding is infrequent, people may not have the adequate knowledge on preparation and can lead to a complacent attitude. It may also not be a priority for them

Economic constraints - Preparing for floods involves purchasing flood insurance, spending money to install flood barriers or upgrading drainage systems. Some people may not have the financial resources for this.

In some cases, there may e inadequate warning systems, thus not giving ample time for people to take action.

People living in urban areas may be overconfident in the infrastructure believing it is strong enough to withstand natural phenomenon such as flooding.

Inadequate messages sent from authorities and media can lead to confusion due to it being overly technical and incomprehensible to layman

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In Australia, especially brisbane, experiencing flood weather is very uncommon due to the nature of the weather mostly being sunny. Therefore, people assume that they dont have to prepare for something that is unlikely or uncommon to happen.

Continuing of the other point people could also be in denial or follow "society norms" where there's discussions around the likeliness of floods happening in their area especially if they do not live in flood-prone areas. People usually decide to follow the majority and where people are in denial or just base their opinions on the ones of other people when they say it wont happen where they live.

Another reason that could prevent people from preparing for a flood would be the lack of resources or unclear weather messages. Some people could live in rural areas or simply just not have access to weather notices or news channels. In saying this, even if they do, weather forecasts are known to be unpredictable therefore allowing people to not take things too seriously.

People may assume that early warning systems will give them enough time to react, leading them to delay preparations. However, flash floods and unexpected rainfall patterns can make these systems less effective.

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One major factor would be that many people may not fully understand the risks of flooding in their area or in general or believe it won’t happen to them. This can be due to the lack of experience with flooding or underestimating the potential severity of flooding.

Relating to the first point I think even when flood warnings are issued, some people may not understand the severity or timing of the threat incoming.

Another major factor would be poor infrastructure and financial constraints. In some communities and areas, outdated or poor infrastructure for example drainage systems etc, increases the risk of floods. If people/ communities do not invest in upgrading these systems, it may leave the people feeling helpless.

To add onto this point preparing for floods often requires an investment/money in protective measures such as sandbags, flood barriers, insurance etc. People with limited financial resources may not be able to afford these preventative steps and again would find themselves helpless.

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Improve public awareness and education - Utilising social media, radio, and in person workshops or campaigns to educate them on flood risks and prevention measures

Being more timely with warning systems such as sending text messages, on radio and TV to send clear instructions and procedures for safe evacuation

Reducing cost of flood insurance to people living in higher risk areas.

Investing in better urban planning to improve drainage systems that handle heavy rainfall.

Making flood risk maps for communities to access to enhance their knowledge on which areas are most vulnerable.

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Governments and local organizations can run educational campaigns to raise awareness about flood risks in specific areas.

Clear communication using social media, TV, radio, and in-person events can help people understand the risks and how to prepare.

Developing interactive, easy-to-use online maps showing flood-prone areas can help residents visualize their risk.

Including flood preparedness education in school curricula can help children learn how to respond to floods and spread this knowledge within their families.

Improve early warning systems to provide highly localized, real-time flood warnings via SMS, mobile apps, and local TV or radio.

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The Gold Coast City Council can run targeted awareness campaigns about the specific flood risks in specific regions. These campaigns should provide clear steps on preparing homes and businesses, building emergency kits, and knowing important things like the local evacuation routes. Information should be accessible in multiple languages to cater to the city's diverse population and additionally, workshops, seminars, and online resources about flood risks, especially for coastal suburbs, should be held often.

As I mentioned in the above point with rapid urban development in the Gold Coast, improving our drainage systems should be a priority to prevent flash flooding, especially in areas like Southport, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach. Regular maintenance and upgrading of these systems are essential to handle more intense rainfall events. Expanding green spaces that absorb rainwater, like rain gardens and wetlands, will help manage floodwaters naturally and these areas can also double as community parks, being a plus in contributing to the city’s environmental sustainability.

The Gold Coast already benefits from modern technology and communication networks. However, further investment in real-time flood forecasting and early warning systems can provide even earlier and more accurate flood warnings. Alerts should be accessible via mobile apps, SMS, social media, and local radio stations to ensure that all residents are informed.

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Clear communication - finding better and effective ways to send out real time alerts.

Raising awareness - implementing educational campaigns in schools and for families so they have a better understanding on what do incase of a flood.

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The Gold Coast City Council running targeted awareness campaigns about the specific flood risks in specific regions and providing clear steps on preparing homes and businesses. Information being accessible in multiple languages to cater to the city's diverse population.

Improving our drainage systems, regular maintenance and upgrading of these systems are essential to handle more intense rainfall events and expanding green spaces that absorb rainwater.

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Financial incentives and assistance - Government reducing the cost of flood insurance, specially for those residents having houses near the river side or the coastline who are more prone to flooding. Offering financial aid for these homeowner will lead to more initiative in helping build better draining systems and flood barriers in their house.

Providing timely and early warning through SMS's that include information for residents to better prepare themselves beforehand rather than during. This can include at risk areas, evacuation procedures, safe spaces and information for those who are differently abled.

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Clear communication - using social media, weather apps, tv, radio etc to send out real time alerts and give constant updates of the weather changes throughout and before the floods.

Raising awareness - Implementing flood drills and having sessions in school where you can raise awareness and provide effective measures you can take when there is a flood. Raising awareness also by running campaigns and promoting them on social media etc, can also help bring these solutions to reality.

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Upgrade infrastructure - Identify those areas in the city that are more prone to flooding and work with the local government to allocate funds to help improve the infrastructure of the houses in these areas. This can include priority projects such as draining systems and physical flood barriers in their house. This can start in two neighborhoods in the most at risk areas and move to other areas after assessing its effectiveness.

Improve early warning systems : Assessing the current existing communication tools such as SMS and identifying gaps and areas of improvement can help enhance the warning systems. This can include partnering with weather forecast companies to send messages much earlier to give residents enough time to prepare. Also including best evacuation protocols, the duration of the weather, and allocated safe spaces for residents to go to during this period.

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For my first point, the first step could be to assess the existing infrastructure and identify the most vulnerable areas. This involves, evaluating current drainage systems, and checking high-risk flood zones. Based on the risk assessment, the Gold Coast City Council, in collaboration with city planners, engineers, and environmental experts, should develop a long-term infrastructure upgrade plan. The Council can seek funding from the government as well, and lastly gathering feedback from the public.

The Gold Coast City Council can collaborate with local media outlets, social media platforms, and community centres to start a public awareness campaign and create accessible and easy to understand materials. Information again should be available in multiple languages to cater to the Gold Coast’s diverse population. Holding workshops in flood-prone neighbourhoods, schools, and community centres as well as where residents can learn about flood preparedness in person would be helpful.

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This session has been extremely informative and productive in exploring practical solutions that can genuinely make a difference. This session made actively think about the effects of floods and how I could better prepare myself for any future floods. I’m confident that with a clear action plan, enhanced early warning systems, and collaboration with local authorities, these ideas can help improve flood resilience in the Gold Coast area.

Strengthening early warning systems and improving infrastructure are very feasible steps that can have immediate and long-term benefits. By focusing on these areas, we can help empower people to take the necessary precautions and reduce the risk of harm for all the residents.

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I found this session very insightful. It was great that we were able to have a discussion and were able to educate each other and discuss different views and suggestions, engaging in this discussion definitely has provided me with more knowledge about flooding and the risks, solutions and plans that come with it.

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What are the flood risks or challenges in our community due to heavy rainfall?

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What did you think of today's session? How confident are you to help our community prepare for floods?

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Which solutions do you think are the most practical and impactful? Why? (Pick 2 favourite ideas and explain why they would be effective)

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Discussion (from individual exercise #2)

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Discussion (from individual exercise #2)

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What solutions could help overcome these barriers to flood preparedness?

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What do you think prevents people from being prepared for floods?