Douglas Disaster Information

25/08/2026

At today’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Councillor Michael Joseph Rees shared a heartfelt reminder about the power of volunteering — especially in the disaster space.

With councillors who bring decades of hands‑on experience, from policing to fire rescue to SES, our community is supported by people who don’t just sit in a room making decisions — they’re out there on roofs, in evacuation centres, and working alongside emergency crews when it matters most.

Cr Rees reflected on conversations after Cyclone Jasper, where many locals said they felt helpless. His message today was simple:
Volunteering is one of the quickest ways to feel useful, connected, and confident during disasters.

Local volunteer organisations — Mossman Area SES Unit, Qld State Emergency Service, Rural Fire, Fire & Rescue, and others — are always looking for new members. You’ll receive free training, learn practical skills, and become part of a team that makes a real difference when our community needs it most.

If you’ve ever wanted to add a little more meaning to your week, or wondered how you can help during emergencies, volunteering might be the perfect place to start.

Let’s keep building a strong, skilled and supported Douglas Shire. 💛💪

16/07/2026

An AusAlert national test alert will be sent to compatible mobile devices across Australia on Monday 27 July 2026, at around 2:00 pm AEST.
The test will help confirm AusAlert is operating as expected ahead of its launch in October 2026.

13/07/2026

🚨 We’re Hiring: Disaster Resilience Officer
Maximum Term to April 2027

Douglas Shire Council is looking for a motivated, community‑minded Disaster Resilience Officer to help strengthen preparedness and resilience across our region. If you’re calm under pressure, great with people, and love turning plans into real‑world action, this role is for you.

You’ll use your project management and stakeholder engagement skills to deliver initiatives that boost emergency readiness for Council and the community. The role includes identifying critical functions, improving business continuity, coordinating activities, building practical tools and plans, and exercising strong professional judgement with plenty of autonomy.

📅 Applications close: 5pm Friday 17 July 2026
👇 Learn more and apply on our website.

Our Disaster Management Team are seeking a self-motivated and engaging Disaster Resilience Officer to join the team for a Maximum Term to April 2027.

16/04/2026

Drive with Care During Wet Weather 🌧️

Catchments including the Mossman River, Daintree River and Bloomfield River remain on a flood watch. These areas are already quite wet after recent rainfall and can respond quickly with further heavy rain.

🚙 When driving in wet conditions, please remember to:
👉Slow down and drive to the conditions
👉Allow extra time for your journey
👉Take care near creeks, rivers and low‑lying areas
👉Avoid driving through water where possible
👉 Turn on your lights
👉 leave extra space between you and the car in front

Conditions can change quickly, so staying alert and planning ahead can help everyone get where they’re going safely.

13/04/2026

Rain and isolated thunderstorms are forecast to develop across Far North Queensland including Douglas from today, Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

13/04/2026

𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭

𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: 𝟏

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐖𝐄𝐃𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘

Moderate to localised heavy rainfall is forecast across parts of the North Tropical Coast from Wednesday into early Thursday, associated with a low pressure trough. This rainfall may cause minor riverine flooding in the Flood Watch area from Wednesday onwards.

Catchments across the Flood Watch area remain relatively wet following repeated rainfall events over the last month, and will respond quickly to further rainfall.

Catchments likely to be affected include:
• Daintree River
• Mossman River
• Mulgrave and Russell Rivers
• Tully River
• Murray River
• Herbert River

For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts
For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood

Safety Advice:
• Don't drive, walk, swim or play in floodwater because it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways.
• Obey road closure signs. Plan ahead so you don't drive on flooded roads.
• Check the ABC and local media for updates. The situation can change quickly, so stay informed.
• For local emergency management warnings and advice visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings.

For emergency assistance call SES on telephone number 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero) immediately.

About Map Note: Map contains unchecked data from automatic equipment. Please remember to refresh page so the data is up to date.

10/04/2026

Check out the latest video update from the Bureau of Meteorology on Tropical Cyclone Maila here:

Video current: 1:00 pm AEST Friday 10/04/26.