2010-11 Queensland FloodsAustralia's north-eastern state of Queensland was hit by a series of floods in December 2010 and early January 2011. Many areas experienced intense flooding. The Queensland floods were one of them. of the worst natural disasters Queensland has ever had. The floods started in December 2010 and ended in January 2011. The floods forced thousands of people from towns and cities to visit. At least 70 cities and over 200,000 people have been affected. 35 lives were lost. In the Queensland area, $2.38 billion in damage was caused. Floods hit central and southern Queensland, including Brisbane, Rockhampton, Emerald, Bundaberg, Dalby, Toowoomba. The Red Cross evacuation on 27 December. Causes of the flood Unusually heavy, prolonged and sometimes torrential rain lashed north-eastern Australia for several months in late 2010 and early 2011, the result of a combination of factors. Spring rains that began in September were followed by extremely wet November and December, when the seasonal wet monsoon coincided with an unusually strong period. The flood crisis has been well managed by the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council. The Queensland Disaster Management Act 2003 (QLD) implemented a detailed plan required for disaster management by the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council. The law establishes guidelines for disaster management plans and lists specific information that must be included such as the strategic policy framework, roles and responsibilities, coordination of activities and priorities for disaster management. The response to the flood was led by the leader of the Queensland Government at the time, Anna Bligh along with Brisbane City Council and...... halfway through ...... to reduce the volume of release include: ensuring the structural safety of dams, minimizing flooding, minimizing plant impacts on plants and animals, and maintaining the water supply level of reservoirs once the water has passed. If flood warnings are not given, emergency services are alerted and response planning begins. Images of Brisbane icons underwater prompted Queenslanders (as well as groups from across the country) to turn out with more than 55,000 registered volunteers helping to clean the streets, and perhaps just as many unregistered volunteers turning up and they gave help to those who needed it. Things have now settled and the recovery process is well underway, with the Brisbane Government recommending that the best wait for help is to assist locals first, including neighbours, friends and family, and then people in your neighborhood..