Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) has advised Queenslanders to make their homes more resilient and move their vehicles to higher ground as intense rainfall and flooding continue to inundate some parts of the state.

RACQ spokesperson Kate Leonard-Jones warned that the extreme weather event had already inundated over 500 roads across Queensland, and the situation changes rapidly.

“There are more than a dozen flood warnings, and emergency alerts have been issued to several regions, including an evacuation notice for the Lockyer Valley,” Leonard-Jones said.

She advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel in these dangerous conditions as roads may become flooded. She also urged residents to ensure their vehicles are in a safe location on higher ground, remove personal belongings and contents from low-lying areas, and prepare an emergency kit and evacuation plan.

Read more: RACQ settles over 80% of motor claims related to Queensland flooding

RACQ had already received over 120 insurance claims related to the current severe weather event, with most claims coming from the Greater Brisbane and Ipswich areas, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, and Townsville. Among the claims, around 80% were related to property damage, including leaking roofs, water entry through windows, and ground floor flooding.

“The motor claims have mainly been due to parked vehicles being swamped. However, we urge people to never drive through floodwaters; not only can it result in costly repairs to your vehicle, but it could also cost you your life,” Leonard-Jones said. “We do expect the number of claims to rise in coming days as the weather system tracks further south.”

RACQ also recently confirmed that it had settled more than 80% of motor claims related to the catastrophic flooding in Queensland in February and March 2022. For the current heavy rainfall and flooding, the insurer offered assurances that its roadside assistance crews, which have had an increase in callouts, remain ready to assist members.