Disaster Recovery & Resilience questions

Often, yes. Many homes, especially lightweight homes on stumps, can be repaired, retrofitted with flood resilient materials, or raised above the flood level.

A structural engineer and building inspector will tell you whether the structure can be kept. Your council will give you the flood planning level your floor must meet. Raising or retrofitting usually needs approval, and some states have offered grants for this in eligible areas. Ask your local recovery centre.

Usually yes. Most rebuilds need planning and building approval, and the bushfire and flood rules that now apply to your land may be stricter than when your home was built.

After declared disasters, some states and councils offer exemptions, fast track approvals or fee waivers. These vary by state and event, so ask your council before you start designing.

Homes built before 1990 may contain asbestos, which can be released by fire or flood damage. Do not disturb damaged materials. Have a licensed assessor check the home, and use a licensed removalist, who will provide a clearance certificate.

Ash, soil, floodwater, rainwater tanks and septic systems may also be contaminated. Ask your council about testing and check whether a government clean up program is operating in your area.

Your council sets a flood planning level for your property. This is usually the defined flood level plus a safety margin called freeboard. Your habitable floor must be at or above this level.

Ask council for a flood certificate or flood information for your property early in design, as it affects your floor height, footings, stairs and costs.

Not until it has been checked. Damaged homes can hide live power, gas leaks, structural damage, asbestos and contaminated water or ash.

Keep every report. Your insurer and certifier will ask for them.

It depends on your situation. With an insurer managed rebuild, the insurer appoints and manages the builder. With a cash settlement, you get the money and manage the rebuild yourself, including any cost overruns.

Before accepting a cash settlement, check it covers today's full rebuild cost, including demolition and any higher bushfire or flood building standards. Get independent advice, as a cash settlement is usually final. If you have a mortgage, your lender may require the money to be paid to them.

See the Insurance Council fact sheet in Resources.

Support is switched on for declared disasters and specific areas, so it changes for each event.

Ask your local recovery centre what is open for you, and note the closing dates.

First check what your policy includes, such as demolition, debris removal, temporary accommodation and rebuilding to current standards. Ask your insurer to explain any shortfall in writing.

If you disagree with a decision, use your insurer's complaints process, then the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), which is free. Free help is also available from Legal Aid in your state and the National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007). Check what government grants are open for your area.

A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) measures how much ember, heat and flame your home could face in a bushfire. It ranges from BAL LOW to BAL FZ (flame zone) and is set by nearby vegetation, distance and slope.

Your BAL decides the construction standard under AS 3959, such as ember screens, glazing, cladding and roofing. Mapping and rules may have changed since your home was first built, so a rebuild may need a higher BAL than before. This can add cost, so check it with your insurer before you settle your claim.

Below the flood level, use materials that survive getting wet and are easy to clean and dry, such as concrete, masonry, ceramic tiles, fibre cement, closed cell insulation and stainless or galvanised fixings.

Avoid plasterboard, MDF or particleboard, fibrous batts and carpet in areas likely to flood. Put switchboards, power points, hot water and air conditioning units above the flood level. See the QLD flood resilient building guide in Resources.

Put safety first, then start your records. In order:

• Only return when emergency services say it is safe.
• Do not turn power or gas back on until a licensed electrician or gas fitter has checked them.
• Photograph and video all damage before cleaning or throwing anything out.
• Contact your insurer to lodge a claim and ask for your policy documents.
• Register with your local recovery centre to find out what help is available.

Use the Resilient Home Rebuild roadmap and the Disaster Rebuild Records Checklist in My Build Hub to track each step.