2017 Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie

Event summary

The Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie & Associated Rainfall & Flooding, 28 March – 6 April 2017 event saw the cyclone cross the Queensland coast at Airlie Beach as a Category 4 system, hit coastal communities with torrential rain and wind gusts up to 265km per hour, destroy or damage homes and businesses and change the lives of those impacted.

As STC Debbie degenerated into a low pressure system, it swamped remote, rural, coastal and urban communities from the north coast to the central west, down to the South East Queensland border. It inundated homes, destroyed infrastructure and tragically, took lives.

More than a week after STC Debbie crossed the coast, its destructive force was still being felt, with widespread flooding in the Fitzroy basin and across Rockhampton and surrounding areas. By the time the havoc wreaked by the Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie & Associated Rainfall & Flooding, 28 March – 6 April 2017 event had abated, 35 councils had been activated for disaster assistance with thousands of Queenslanders facing a long road to recovery.

State Recovery Plan

The State Recovery Plan 2017-19: Operation Queensland Recovery aligns with the Queensland Recovery Plan and builds on existing recovery approaches in recognising that communities affected by the Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie & Associated Rainfall & Flooding, 28 March – 6 April 2017 event are best placed to develop and implement local plans that meet their own recovery needs. It outlines a clear commitment that the Queensland Government will work with local governments and communities to ensure impacted people, communities and businesses get the resources and support they need, when they need it.