Today’s view of the 2022 Flood-Impacted Communities

One year on from the most expensive natural disaster in Australian history — and the fourth most costly in the world in 2022 — and the months of further flooding that followed, we’re looking at how rebuilding efforts have progressed in the Eastern Australian communities were once underwater.

In our previous blog, we showed post-catastrophe imagery that captured the devastating impact of the 6 month period that was characterised by record-breaking rainfall and recurring flooding events. Frequently captured aerial imagery from the past year shows what these resilient communities look like today.

By the end of the first week of March, parts of Queensland had received more than a year’s worth of rainfall. The Brisbane River rose to submerge many of its surrounding suburbs, with recovery and rebuilding efforts reminiscent of the 2011 floods.

Lismore in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales was inundated by the biggest flood in modern Australian history in February — with a second flood hitting just a month and two days following. As one of the worst impacted areas in the country, Lismore is still struggling to rebuild more than a year later.

The clean-up is still underway along the Hawkesbury River, where residents and businesses are no strangers to rebuilding — some experiencing four flooding events in 18 months.

Nearmap ImpactResponse imagery of Maitland in the New South Wales Hunter Region were some of our most dramatic. The captures of the recovery of the town are no different.

While these aerial views show some progress, rehabilitation of these communities’ built and natural environments is ongoing — and expected to continue for years.

As recovery continues, spotlight on resilience through better response and preparedness becomes brighter — and the role of location intelligence and aerial imagery becomes more important.

The under-resourcing and under-preparedness of emergency services, long wait times for grants and insurance and disaster payments, slowness and unresponsiveness in clean up and restoration, malfunctioning flood mitigation structures, and a lack of individual property and community risk understanding, were just some of the many factors that impacted the outcomes of the catastrophic event according to the NSW Government’s inquiry into the 2022 floods.

Many of the recommendations outlined in the inquiry are underpinned by the need for more knowledge and resources. To better support flood management, accurate current and historical data will therefore be key.

Location intelligence and aerial imagery can help identify potential flood risks, model and simulate flood impact in disaster-prone areas, design more resilient communities, plan efficient evacuation and emergency response routes, show the truth on the ground in the days following a flood event, and more.