Flood, storm and insurance — checking risk street by street

Two houses in the same street can sit metres apart in height and worlds apart in risk. Brisbane's flooding comes from the river, from creek catchments like Oxley, Kedron Brook, Enoggera, Bulimba and Norman Creek, and from flash overland flow that follows the local terrain.

Always check the council flood-awareness mapping for the exact address, and Logan or Ipswich equivalents in those areas. Ask for the property's flood report, look at the floor level relative to the road, and note where the stormwater goes.

The fastest reality check available is a real premium quote for the specific address. Insurers price flood exposure sharply, and a premium that runs into the thousands is telling you something the sale brochure will not.

Hail, wind and heavy rain from November to February make roof condition, tree cover, drainage, gutter capacity and garage placement worth inspecting closely. In elevated suburbs, ask about retaining walls and slope stability rather than flooding.