Warnings are of limited value unless they are delivered in a timely and effective manner and property owners and residents in the flood-threatened area believe the warning and take appropriate action in advance of being flooded. The responsibility for flood forecasting and warning services in Australia rests with the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology. In Queensland, the effectiveness of the flood warning system depends on the cooperative involvement of the Bureau of Meteorology, State Government agencies and Local Government working with flood-threatened communities. The roles of the primary agencies involved in the flood warning system, as recommended by the FWCC, are outlined in the figure below. At each flood warning river height station, the severity of flooding is described as minor, moderate or major according to the effects caused in the local area or in nearby downstream areas.
Major disruptions occur to road and rail links.
Evacuation of many houses and business premises may be required. In rural areas widespread flooding of farmland is likely. Main traffic bridges may be closed by floodwaters. River heights are measured in metres above the gauge zero. For example, a river height reading of 5 metres means that the water level has risen 5 metres above its lowest level.