How to keep your car safe during Cyclone Alfred

South-east Queensland and the north-east region of New South Wales will soon be hit by Cyclone Alfred, set to bring intense winds and significant rainfall in the coming days.

While cyclones aren’t unexpected towards Australia’s north, it’s the first time in half a century that major population hubs such as Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be in the direct firing line.

This means a majority of residents have never experienced an impending disaster, and may be unprepared for the effects of Cyclone Alfred.

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Thankfully, the Queensland Government and the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) have provided information to residents on how to best prepare themselves, their homes and vehicles for the wind and rain.

According to the Queensland Government, you should undertake basic service checks to reduce the changes of your vehicle breaking down if you’re evacuating. 

This means making sure its tyres are correctly inflated, fluid levels are where they should be and you have enough fuel to get to where you need to go, with some in reserve in case of traffic or road closures.

This also extends to having working lights and windscreen wipers in good condition, though it’s best to not drive during the cyclone.

An emergency first aid kit is also an important tool to have, while you should make sure your insurance coverage is up to date.

Once parked, towels can help protect your vehicle’s glass, however they need to be correctly secured otherwise they’ll be dislodged.

The Queensland Government has warned residents to rethink travel plans and try to avoid driving when a severe weather warning has been issued.

“The first thing you should consider if a severe weather or flood warning is issued is do you need to drive at all,” the Get Ready Queensland website says.

“If you are already on the road when a storm hits or need to be on the road due to family circumstances, follow these tips and remember to never attempt to drive across a flooded road:

• When severe weather warnings are issued, park vehicles under cover, away from trees, power lines and waterways. If you cannot access undercover shelter for your vehicles, firmly secure blankets or quilts to them to minimise hail damage
• If you need to drive home during a severe storm or flood warning, check road conditions before heading out
• If you are caught on the road during a severe storm turn on your headlights (low beam), maintain a safe following distance, use cold air to demist windscreens, avoid braking suddenly, accelerating or turning quickly and use road line markings to stay in the middle of your lane
• If visibility is low or if you are uncomfortable driving in the conditions, pull over in a safe place and with plenty of warning and turn on your hazard lights.”

This message was echoed by the RACQ, which has advised motorists to “avoid unnecessary travel and drive to the conditions – if it’s flooded, forget it”.

The motoring club and insurance provider also said that where possible, motorists should move their vehicle to higher ground.

For warnings about Cyclone Alfred, the following ABC radio stations are available for certain regions.

• Brisbane – 612AM,
• Gold Coast – 91.7FM
• Sunshine Coast – 90.3FM, 95.3FM or 1566AM
• Wide Bay – 855AM, 100.1FM, 88.3FM
• NSW North Coast (Richmond and Tweed) – 94.5FM 
• Murwillumbah – 720AM  
• Grafton – 738AM 

The State Emergency Service (SES) can be contacted on 132 500 if you need storm and flood assistance, while all emergency calls should be made to 000.

MORE: Is it illegal to drive in floodwaters or flooded roads?