Cyclone Alfred floods – Six-month impact & recovery update

Introduction

In March 2025, Cyclone Alfred brought severe flooding, destructive winds, and widespread power outages across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. Thousands of homes, businesses, and essential services were damaged or destroyed. Australian Red Cross responded immediately, supporting evacuation efforts, providing psychological first aid, and delivering vital relief supplies.

Six months on, we remain committed to supporting communities as they recover and rebuild. Our response has been guided by community strengths and needs assessments, ensuring support reaches those who need it most. Working in partnership with local councils, emergency services, community groups, and corporate partners, we have helped communities begin the long journey to recovery, and resilience for future disasters.

Supporting communities during and after disaster

Serving communities with care

In the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Alfred, Australian Red Cross volunteers were on the ground, delivering critical relief and psychological first aid to those impacted, providing much-needed stability and reassurance amid chaos.

Through evacuation centres, recovery hubs, and outreach services, trained volunteers offered practical help and emotional care, helping people cope with trauma and begin the recovery process together.

In the wake of repeated disasters, communities face not only physical damage but also deep emotional and practical hardship. It is in these moments that Australian Red Cross stands alongside them, offering hope, care and a path forward.

Emergency response snapshot

Putting people and community first

Recovery from a disaster of this scale takes years, not months. Australian Red Cross supports communities in their long-term recovery by helping to strengthen social networks and relationships that are vital for sustainable recovery.

Our recovery work focuses on reducing the psychosocial impacts of disasters, recognising that emergencies can have wide-ranging and long-lasting effects on people’s health, wellbeing, quality of life and community connections.

In the six months since Cyclone Alfred, Australian Red Cross has worked alongside communities across southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales to support recovery. Our approach has been grounded in community strengths and needs assessments, ensuring that assistance is tailored to what people say they need most. By listening first, we can prioritise support for the most vulnerable households and focus on services that strengthen local resilience.

A key part of our recovery efforts is the delivery of psychosocial support and Psychological First Aid. Hundreds of trained Australian Red Cross staff and volunteers have provided practical help and emotional care in the months and years after a disaster, through outreach visits, building local capacity, workshops and community-led recovery event. This support has helped people manage distress, reconnect with their social networks, and take the first steps towards rebuilding their lives.

Recovery is not only about immediate relief but also about restoring a sense of connection. By working hand in hand with local leaders, community groups, and partner organisations, Australian Red Cross has supported people to identify their own recovery goals and build on existing strengths. This community-driven approach recognises that recovery is a long process, and we remain committed to standing with affected communities as they continue to heal and prepare for future emergencies.

Thank you

Australian Red Cross could not deliver this work without the generosity of our supporters.

We sincerely thank our:

Community fundraisers and individual donors who gave generously in our time of need.

Volunteers and partner organisations who stood alongside us in the response and continue to support recovery.

Philanthropists and Corporate Partners whose contributions – whether through direct funding, resources, or staff engagement – amplified our impact and enabled us to reach more people in need.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the partners listed below, who stood with us during the Cyclone Alfred response and enabled us to continue supporting affected communities in need. We also extend our thanks to the partners of our Australian Emergency Fund (not listed), whose ongoing contributions ensure Australian Red Cross can prepare for, respond to, and support recovery from disasters across the country — whenever and wherever they strike, and when support is needed most. 

• Amazon
• Australia Post
• Australian Philanthropic Services
• Charter Hall
• Ford Australia
• Hospitals Contributions Fund
• IFM
• King Charles lll Charitable Fund
• Mitsubishi Electric Australia
• Molloy Family Foundation
• Pulse Charge
• Qantas
• QBE
• Reckitt
• Rio Tinto
• Scenture Group
• Suncorp
• Uber
• Z Zurich Foundation

Your generous support helps Australian Red Cross be there for communities not only in the first days after a disaster, but throughout the long road to recovery.