Red Cross Emergency Services teams have visited over 7,000 homes that were severely affected by the recent storms, checking on the health and well-being of affected residents. For those affected by the Central and South East Queensland Storms and wish to apply for financial assistance through the Premier's Disaster Relief Fund, please download and complete the application form.

Useful information for those affected by the storms

To help those affected by the storms, Red Cross is distributing information on Cleaning Up After Flooding and Coping with a Personal Crisis. Booklets are available by clicking here or by calling Red Cross on 07 3367 7222 or email qldemergency@redcross.org.au.

Property damage
If your property is damaged and you are in urgent need of assistance, please call State Emergency Services on 132 500. If your power is off, please call Energex on 13 62 62.

Health Matters
Queensland Health has information for people to manage the health impacts of the storms and floods, available at www.health.qld.gov.au/floods.

Telephone counselling is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.

You can also download the Coping with a Major Personal Crisis Booklet from here or listen to the podcast.

Information updates for parents
Information updates for parents Storm and flood information for state school parents can be found at www.education.qld.gov.au.

You can also download the Red Cross Information Sheet, Talking to Children about Emergencies from here.

Clean up
Call your local council for information and advice on how to dispose of food waste, green waste and debris from the storm. Brisbane residents call Brisbane City Council on 3403 8888 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au  

Financial Assistance

• For people requiring government financial assistance, contact the Department of Communities on 1800 173 349 or visit www.communities.qld.gov.au.
• For people requiring Federal Government assistance, contact Centrelink on 180 2266 or visit www.centrelink.gov.au.
• Applications are now open for the Premier's Disaster Relief appeal, to apply please download the application form.

How you can help those affected by the storms

Red Cross are not taking any donations. Donations should be made to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

Donations to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal
The Queensland Government has launched an appeal fund to help the people of Brisbane's suburbs damaged in Sunday's freak storm. Donations can be made to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal Fund at any of the following banks:

• Commonwealth
• Westpac
• National Australia Bank
• ANZ
• Suncorp Metway
• Bank of Queensland

Cheques can be made out to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal Fund. 

Credit card donations can be made 24 hours a day by calling 1800 173 349.

The appeal would remain open for at least three months and will be distributed by Red Cross. All donations of $2.00 or more to the appeal will be tax deductible.

Get your household prepared

Storms like these can occur anytime, anywhere. Red Cross recommends that people take the Four Steps to Prepare Your Household or email rediplan@redcross.org.au for more information.

Become part of Red Cross' Emergency Services Team

Red Cross conducts free training sessions across Queensland for those interested in becoming an Emergency Services, click here for training dates and locations. To attend the training course or for more information phone 1800 733 111 or send an email to Red Cross at qldemergency@redcross.org.au.