Health and safety during and after a disaster

Following the initial impact of a disaster, injury and illness may still occur during clean-up and recovery.

The main health risks include:

  • injury—such as falls, skin lacerations and exposure to fallen electricity wires
  • skin infections
  • bites such as snake and spider bites
  • sunburn
  • mosquito-borne infections
  • carbon monoxide poisoning from using petrol powered generators and pumps in confined spaces
  • illness from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Specific advice is available for individual health hazards:

Returning to a disaster affected house or building

Before returning, ensure that local officials (such as police or council) have declared the area safe. If you have evacuated your home, there are measures you should take on your return to ensure the safety and health of your family:

  • when you return home, check that all power and gas supplies have been turned off. This includes any external sources, such as pool pumps. If your house sustained significant damage or flooding, an electrician will need to check the wiring before power is restored
  • be aware that the structural integrity of the building may be affected
  • be aware of dangerous wildlife, such as spiders, snakes and other animals, which may have moved into your home during or after the disaster event
  • be aware of hazardous household materials or substances that may have been released (for example asbestos)
  • assume that anything that has come in contact with floodwater is contaminated.

Protect yourself from injury and illness

The likelihood of illness and injury increases when entering premises that have been affected by a disaster. To protect yourself from injury and illness:

  • avoid direct contact with floodwater
  • wear protective clothes such as long sleeve shirts, eyewear, heavy-duty gloves and sturdy footwear
  • cover cuts and wounds with waterproof dressings
  • regularly wash your hands
  • wear sunscreen and a hat when working outdoors, and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
  • wear a P2 face masks as required
  • ensure generators and pumps are situated in well-ventilated areas, preferably outside.

To help you prepare for emergencies, learn more about what to include in your health emergency kit (PDF 522 kB).

Management of abrasions and simple wounds

Clean the abrasion or wound using clean, fresh water. Remove debris from wounds using clean or sterile gauze (often contained in first aid kits) if available. Don’t scrub at embedded dirt—if there is a lot of dirt or debris in the wound, seek medical attention.

Apply an antiseptic such as an iodine solution if available. Cover the cleaned wound with a waterproof, sterile dressing. Keep cuts or abrasions clean and dry. Wounds heal quickly if the limbs are rested and elevated.

Seek medical attention for advice on the need for a tetanus booster if the wound contained dirt or is deep and the last tetanus booster was more than five years ago.

Seek medical attention for severe wounds or for any wound if it is very dirty or becomes red, sore, swollen or painful.

Managing waste

During clean-up after a disaster, large amounts of waste can be generated. Waste management services provided by your local council may be altered after a disaster—either deferred, or extra services provided. You should contact your council if you are unsure of waste management services and requirements following a disaster.

Waste that is not managed and stored appropriately may become a health hazard and may also attract unwanted pests and vermin. To minimise the health risks, ensure that:

  • perishable wastes, such as foods and other organic waste that may decompose, are stored in a sealed bag for collection.
  • building waste and debris are disposed of in a safe manner in allocated disposal sites.
  • care is taken when handling materials from buildings built before 1990 as they may contain asbestos. These materials are generally not a risk to health unless they are significantly disturbed.
  • hazardous wastes, such as chemicals, medicines, gas tanks and asbestos containing material, are not left on the kerbside. These items should be left in a secure location. Contact your local council for advice on disposal methods or collection times.
  • in the case of clean up after a fire, ash is not spread around the property, especially if asbestos materials or copper, chrome, arsenic (CCA)- treated timber was burnt as this may be harmful if ingested. Keep children and pets away from ash until the clean-up is completed. Also, minimise airborne ash by keeping the waste debris wet, do not use high pressure water sprays for this purpose.

Further information

  • Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) at any time.
  • Contact 13 QGOV (13 74 68) for your nearest Public Health Unit.

If you or anyone in your household is experiencing any health effects from a clean-up after a disaster, seek medical advice from your doctor.

Download the staying safe during disaster clean-up factsheet (PDF 1533 kB).

Last updated: 4 January 2024