Water: Know Your Shutoff Points
Every Brisbane home has a main water shutoff valve at the water meter, which is typically located near the front boundary of your property, often set into the ground near the footpath or driveway with a metal or plastic cover. The valve is either a gate valve (round handle, turn clockwise to close) or a ball valve (lever handle, turn to perpendicular to shut off). Practice turning it now — many valves become stiff from lack of use and may need a wrench or pliers when you actually need them in an emergency. In addition to the main valve, most Brisbane homes have isolation valves for individual fixtures: under sinks, behind toilets, and on the hot water system inlet. Knowing these locations lets you shut off water to a specific area without cutting supply to the whole house. For hot water systems, there is usually an isolation valve on the cold water inlet pipe to the tank — closing this stops water flowing to and through a leaking hot water system.
- •Main water shutoff: at the water meter near the front boundary
- •Gate valve: round handle, turn clockwise to close
- •Ball valve: lever handle, turn perpendicular to close
- •Individual fixtures have isolation valves underneath/behind
- •Hot water system: isolation valve on cold inlet pipe
- •Test your main valve now — do not wait for an emergency
Electricity: Your Switchboard and Safety Switches
Your switchboard is your control centre for all electrical circuits in your home. In Brisbane homes, it is most commonly found in the garage, laundry, hallway cupboard, or in a weatherproof enclosure on an external wall near the electricity meter. Open it now and familiarise yourself with the layout. You will see a main switch (the largest one, usually at the top) that cuts all power to the house, individual circuit breakers for each circuit (labelled — or label them yourself), and safety switches (RCDs) that protect against electrocution. Know how to: turn off the main switch in an emergency (flip down), reset a tripped safety switch (flip back up), and identify which circuit breaker controls which area of your home. Label any unlabelled circuits by turning them off one at a time and noting what loses power. Having your switchboard clearly labelled saves critical minutes during an emergency and helps electricians work faster when they arrive.
- •Find your switchboard: garage, laundry, hallway, or external wall
- •Main switch at the top cuts all power — flip down in emergencies
- •Individual circuit breakers control specific areas
- •Safety switches (RCDs) protect against electrocution
- •Label all circuits now so you know what controls what
- •Take a photo of your switchboard layout for reference
Gas: Shutoff and Safety
If your Brisbane home has a gas connection (common for hot water, cooktops, and heating), know where the gas meter is and how to shut it off. The gas meter is typically on an external wall or near the front boundary, usually in a metal cabinet. The shutoff valve is a lever or tap near the meter — turn it to the perpendicular (crosswise) position to stop all gas flow to your home. If you smell gas (a strong rotten-egg odour), do not turn on any lights or switches (sparks can ignite gas), do not use your phone inside the house, evacuate everyone including pets, and call your gas provider's emergency line from outside. In Brisbane, if your gas is supplied by APG (Australian Pacific Gas), their emergency number is 1800 427 532. For natural gas, contact APA Group on 1800 GAS LEAK (1800 427 532). Keep these numbers saved in your phone.
- •Gas meter: external wall or front boundary, in a metal cabinet
- •Shutoff lever: turn perpendicular to stop gas flow
- •If you smell gas: do NOT turn on any lights or switches
- •Evacuate and call gas provider from outside the house
- •Gas emergency: 1800 427 532 or 000 if immediate danger
- •Save your gas provider's emergency number in your phone
Your Emergency Contact List
Create a printed emergency contact list and put it on the fridge where everyone in the household can find it. Include: Triple Zero (000) for fire, police, and ambulance. Energex (13 12 53) for power outages and fallen power lines. Your gas provider emergency line. UrgentTradie for verified emergency plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, and HVAC technicians. Your home insurance provider's claims number and policy number. Your real estate agent or landlord (for renters). Queensland SES (132 500) for storm and flood emergencies. Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26). Having these numbers printed — not just in your phone — means they are accessible even during a power outage when your phone is dead. Also ensure every adult in the household knows where the water, electricity, and gas shutoffs are.
- •000: Fire, Police, Ambulance
- •13 12 53: Energex (power outages, fallen lines)
- •Gas provider emergency line (save in phone + print)
- •UrgentTradie: verified emergency tradies for all 4 trades
- •Home insurance: claims number and policy number
- •132 500: Queensland SES (storm and flood)
- •13 11 26: Poisons Information Centre
Insurance Preparation
When an emergency happens, your actions in the first few hours can make or break an insurance claim. Take photos and video of the damage before any cleanup or repair begins — this is your evidence. Keep all receipts from emergency repairs, accommodation, and temporary measures. Most home insurance policies require you to take reasonable steps to mitigate damage (turn off the water, mop up, protect undamaged property), but they do not expect you to fix the problem yourself. Contact your insurer as soon as possible — many have 24-hour claims lines. Note that most standard policies cover sudden and accidental events (burst pipes, storm damage) but not gradual damage (slow leaks, lack of maintenance). Know your policy excess (the amount you pay before insurance kicks in) and your sum insured for building and contents. If emergency repair costs are likely to be under your excess amount, it may not be worth claiming.
- •Photograph and video all damage before cleanup or repair
- •Keep all receipts for emergency repairs and temporary measures
- •Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage
- •Contact your insurer's 24-hour claims line promptly
- •Know your excess amount and sum insured
- •Sudden events are covered; gradual damage usually is not