Victoria’s 2022 Floods: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward

In October 2022, Victoria experienced one of the most devastating flood events in its recorded history. Torrential rain, compounded by a rare combination of climatic drivers, created the wettest month on record in Victoria, which inundated vast areas and affected 81% of the state’s local government areas. From busy urban areas to rural communities, the floods left a trail of destruction, causing significant loss of life, widespread displacement, and substantial economic damage. As the waters receded, it became clear that this event was not just an anomaly but a harbinger of the increased frequency and severity of such disasters driven by climate change.

October 2022 Flooding - Image via Greater Shepparton Council

In response to the widespread impact of the floods, the Victorian Parliament’s Environment and Planning Committee launched an Inquiry into the Event. The Inquiry’s primary purpose was to evaluate the state’s preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. Additionally, it sought to identify systemic issues and propose actionable recommendations to enhance Victoria’s resilience against future flood events.

The goals were to understand the causes and contributing factors of the flood, assess the adequacy of the early warning systems, examine the response efforts, and explore how planning and infrastructure decisions may have exacerbated the flood’s impact. The ultimate aim was to provide a roadmap for better managing such disasters in the future, ensuring that the lessons from 2022 lead to tangible improvements.

The Inquiry uncovered several critical issues that played a role in both the severity of the flood and the effectiveness of the response, including:

Inadequate Flood Warnings and Emergency Alerts:
The flood warnings issued during the event were found to be inconsistent, often delayed, and sometimes inaccurate. This lack of clarity and timeliness hindered communities' ability to respond effectively, leading to greater loss and damage.

Gaps in Flood Management Infrastructure:
The Inquiry highlighted the inadequacies in existing flood mitigation infrastructure, such as levees and culverts, which were not maintained or designed to withstand the intensity of the 2022 floods. This resulted in significant breaches and failures during the event

Planning and Land Use Decisions: The report pointed to past planning decisions, such as the construction of the Flemington Racecourse flood wall, which inadvertently worsened flooding in some areas. These decisions, often based on outdated data and models, underscore the need for more rigorous and climate-conscious planning​

Indication of the rainfall levels in Victoria during October 2022. Image via BoM. 

How Early Warning Network Can Help

Over the years, EWN has successfully partnered with key customers in flood-prone areas to provide tailored alerting services that have proven instrumental in protecting lives and minimising damage. Our collaborations with local councils, emergency services, water authorities and large enterprises have demonstrated the effectiveness of our systems during critical flood events. These partnerships underscore our commitment to helping communities and businesses prepare for and respond to the increasing threat of floods.

Our mission aligns closely with the recommendations from the Inquiry, particularly in the realm of flood warnings. Our services are designed to provide precise, real-time alerts that empower communities to act swiftly in the face of imminent danger. We leverage cutting-edge technology to deliver hyper-local, accurate flood warnings. Our systems integrate real-time data from multiple sources, including weather forecasts, river gauges, and satellite imagery, to provide communities with timely alerts that can be acted upon immediately.

Rainfall totals on EWN's GIS Platform

Recognising the diversity of communities, EWN offers customisable alert systems that cater to specific needs. Whether it’s a rural area with limited connectivity or an urban centre with a dense population, our alerts are designed to reach every corner of the community, ensuring that no one is left behind during a crisis. Our GIS platform also supports emergency response teams by providing them with critical information in real-time, helping to coordinate efforts and deploy resources where they are needed most. By integrating our services with government systems, we can enhance the overall effectiveness of emergency management in Victoria.

Our team is not just reacting to past events; we are actively shaping the future of flood preparedness. Our ongoing work focuses on continually improving flood warnings and mitigating the risks associated with these increasingly frequent and severe events. To achieve this, we are partnering with industry leaders who are at the forefront of flood modelling research. These collaborations allow us to incorporate the latest advancements in flood data into our platform, providing our users with the most accurate and actionable data available.

The 2022 floods in Victoria serve as a stark reminder of the growing risks posed by climate change. The Inquiry’s findings and recommendations provide a clear roadmap for improving our preparedness and response to such events. At EWN, we are committed to playing a key role in this effort, ensuring that our communities are better informed, better prepared, and, ultimately, better protected.

You can read the report here.