Authorities have warned that the recent flash floods in NSW and Queensland are a reminder for people to be flood prepared, even during a drought.

The head of the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), Brigadier Philip McNamara, said in a press release that the recent floods demonstrated the dangers of floodwaters and the need for people and businesses to take care in the event of flash flooding.

Despite the ongoing drought, the sudden storms that caused the floods broke many rainfall records. According to Blair Trewin of the Bureau of Meteorology's National Climate Centre, the rainfall at Carrara on the Gold Coast exceeded the 1 in 100 year rainfall intensities for three days straight. Hundreds of houses were flooded and a young couple drowned when they drove into floodwaters.

Holroyd City Councillor Allan Ezzy, who is Chairman of the NSW Floodplain Management Authorities, said that the recent floods "highlight the fact that we should never forget the extreme variations which can occur in Australia's climate." They were "a dramatic warning of the need to be vigilant when managing flood prone areas," he added.

Dr Stephen Lees, Executive Officer of the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust said that recent surveys showed that many people are unaware of the damage and devastation caused by floods in the Upper Parramatta River catchment in 1986 and 1988.

"Since then the Trust and the local councils have completed works to reduce the risk of flooding, but it is impossible to control all floods. Storms like those on the Gold Coast would still flood many homes in the Holroyd, Blacktown, Baulkham Hills and Parramatta local government areas," he noted.

The SES urges people to take some basic measures to keep themselves, their families and their property safer. Dr Lees agrees, noting that "we are working with the SES and local councils to help businesses and households in the Upper Parramatta Catchment develop their own action plans for flash floods. Experience shows that those who prepare a simple flood action plan beforehand suffer less losses and less stress when a flood occurs, and are healthier afterwards."

The Parramatta River in flood during the 1980s - note the David Jones carpark in the background