Case Study: Flooding in Brisbane, Australia

1. The flooding was caused by increased rainfall in the region, higher than average. This caused the Brisbane river to become overflowed. The Wivenhoe dam also caused a bit of flooding, due to higher inflows than outflows.

2. Economically, the flooding caused heavy damage to the crops grown in the region, many of them drowned from the amount of water. Tourism in the region was also harmed. The flooding also caused fuel inflation an cost 3-5 billion dollars. Socially, the flooding made many people worried about things such as food poisoning from water contamination, among other diarrhoea like symptoms such as lung disease and toxic shock. It of course left many people homeless, and forced them to do risky methods of using power. Environmentally, the flood waters hammered a lot of the Queensland landscape. Creeks and rivers eroded, became contaminated and covered in debris. These ended up putting exotic species like carp at risk. Soils as well became contaminated from the chemicals some industrial areas put out after being flooded. These issues also threatened marine environments like Moreton Bay with the amount of contamination surrounding them.

3. Queensland is preparing by coming up with plans to do such as guides on what you need to do and awareness maps so you know how much at risk is your area. The guides include how to prepare, how to report a flood incoming, and to understand the problems that might arise.