A Far North Queensland council is investigating after its emergency warning system incorrectly alerted thousands of residents to fictional flooding and earthquake events early on Thursday.
Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden said thousands of text messages and emails were sent in error to the city’s residents from 9:30am.
Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden says council is investigating the errant warning messages. (Supplied: Cairns Regional Council)
She said one of the messages warned that flash flooding was threatening people and property and urged them to move to higher ground.
Another message referred to an earthquake risk at Copperlode Dam, the city’s main water supply.
Cr Eden – who also received one of the messages – apologised to residents for any stress caused.
She says it was unknown whether human error or a software fault was to blame and that the council would hold a “hot brief” this afternoon to investigate further.
“We’re working with the messaging provider to make sure there are no more messages in the pipeline,” Cr Eden said.
Brett Hitchens was moving back into his home when he received the message. (ABC Far North: Conor Byrne)
‘A lot of serious failures’
Machans Beach resident Brett Hitchens received one of the messages as he was moving back into his renovated home after it flooded late last year.
“It immediately sent me investigating,” the retired school teacher said.
“It was a relief when I went to the disaster dashboard and realised that they posted a message up there saying that it was a message sent in error.”
He said he had little trust in the warning system after the floods, which displaced thousands of in Far North Queensland days before Christmas.
At the time, warning texts were issued prior to Cyclone Jasper’s arrival on December 14, but many residents had little or no warning about a serious rain event on December 17 until some were inundated or isolated by record-high water levels.
“I personally don’t have a lot of faith,” Mr Hitchens said.
“That warning system had a lot of serious failures that have been documented everywhere.”
Despite the council’s apology and clarification online, he said he felt uncertain about the quality of its emergency warning system.
“After this message I’m wondering whether that system has been fixed … is it something we can rely on for this next storm season?” Mr Hitchens said.
Cr Eden said residents would be kept in the loop.
“The community will hear from council once we know exactly what happened, because that will be part of the rebuilding of trust and we know we have to do that,” she said.
