What to do in an emergency

It's important to stay up to date with the latest information. In a flood event, the situation can change quickly.

Regularly check your state emergency service website for the most up to date information about the situation and any actions you need to take.

When an emergency happens you should follow your business’s emergency management plan.

If you don't have one, you can use our take action checklist to help you though the next steps.

There are steps you can take to help keep your business operating in times of unexpected circumstances and disasters.

Use your emergency management plan or our take action checklist to help to keep your business running.

Make sure your ABN details and business location are correct on the Australian Business Register (ABR). Government agencies use this information to check if you are eligible for financial assistance, grants or support during emergencies.

Did you know?

Your main business address on the ABR should not be a post office box or tax or BAS agent address (unless you are running your business as a tax or BAS agent).

To ensure you have access to the right government financial support, we need to know the physical street address of your business or organisation.

If you haven’t updated your ABN details on the ABR for some time, go to the ABR website to check and update your ABN details.

January 2026 Victoria bushfires

December 2025 and January 2026 North Queensland flooding

  • Disaster Recovery Allowance

    Support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the floods in North Queensland.

    Services Australia

  • Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants

    Grants to help your business with the cost of cleaning up and repairs.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Disaster Assistance Loans

    Low-interest loans to help your business get back on track after flood damage.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Essential Working Capital Loans

    Low-interest loans to cover salaries, rent, rates and other essential expenses.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Support for agribusiness

    Queensland Government advice and support for farmers and primary producers impacted by the floods.

    Business Queensland

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Hardship assistance from banks

    Your bank may be able to defer your loan repayments, waive fees or provide extra finance.

    Australian Banking Association

  • Workplace rights and responsibilities

    Understand your responsibilities to workers, including what to do if you need to stand down staff due to the bushfires.

    Fair Work Ombudsman

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the floods, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

December 2025 Bondi terrorist attack

November and December 2025 NSW East Coast bushfires

  • Natural disaster relief loans

    Low interest loans of up to $130,000 are available to help small businesses and primary producers recover.

    NSW Rural Assistance Authority

  • Natural disaster transport subsidies

    Primary producers in affected areas of NSW can apply for up to $15,000 to transport stock, water or fodder.

    NSW Rural Assistance Authority

  • Hardship assistance from banks

    Your bank may be able to defer your loan repayments, waive fees or provide extra finance.

    Australian Banking Association

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief. They can also help with your insurance policy and claims.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

  • Workplace rights and responsibilities

    Understand your responsibilities to workers, including what to do if you need to stand down staff due to the bushfires.

    Fair Work Ombudsman

May 2025 NSW East Coast severe weather and flooding

  • Recovery grants

    Small businesses and non-profits can get up to $25,000 to help with clean-up, repairs and reopening.

    Service NSW

  • Disaster Recovery Allowance

    Support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the severe weather and flooding.

    Services Australia

  • Natural disaster relief loans

    Low interest loans of up to $130,000 are available to help small businesses and primary producers recover.

    NSW Rural Assistance Authority

  • Natural disaster transport subsidies

    Primary producers in affected areas of NSW can apply for up to $15,000 to transport stock, water or fodder.

    NSW Rural Assistance Authority

  • Hardship assistance from banks

    Your bank may be able to defer your loan repayments, waive fees or provide extra finance.

    Australian Banking Association

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief. They can also help with your insurance policy and claims.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

  • Workplace rights and responsibilities

    Understand your responsibilities to workers, including what to do if you need to stand down staff due to the flooding.

    Fair Work Ombudsman

March and April 2025 Western Queensland flooding

  • Disaster Recovery Allowance

    Support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the floods in Western Queensland.

    Services Australia

  • Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants

    Grants to help your business with the cost of cleaning up and repairs.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Disaster Assistance Loans

    Low-interest loans to help your business get back on track after flood damage.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Essential Working Capital Loans

    Low-interest loans to cover salaries, rent, rates and other essential expenses.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Support for agribusiness

    Queensland Government advice and support for farmers and primary producers impacted by the floods.

    Business Queensland

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the floods, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

March 2025 Cyclone Alfred

  • Disaster Recovery Allowance

    A short-term payment if you've lost income as a direct result of the cyclone.

    Services Australia

  • Natural disaster relief loans

    Low interest loans of up to $130,000 are available to help small businesses and primary producers recover from Cyclone Alfred.

    NSW Rural Assistance Authority

  • Natural disaster transport subsidies

    Primary producers in affected areas of NSW can apply for up to $15,000 to transport stock, water or fodder.

    NSW Rural Assistance Authority

  • Hardship assistance from banks

    Your bank may be able to defer your loan repayments, waive fees or provide extra finance.

    Australian Banking Association

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the cyclone, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

  • Workplace rights and responsibilities

    Understand your responsibilities to workers, including what to do if you need to stand down staff due to the cyclone.

    Fair Work Ombudsman

  • Disaster Recovery Allowance

    A short-term payment if you've lost income as a direct result of the cyclone.

    Services Australia

  • Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants

    Grants to help your business with the cost of cleaning up and repairs.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Disaster Assistance Loans

    Low-interest loans to help your business get back on track after cyclone damage.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Essential Working Capital Loans

    Low-interest loans to cover salaries, rent, rates and other essential expenses.

    Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

  • Hardship assistance from banks

    Your bank may be able to defer your loan repayments, waive fees or provide extra finance.

    Australian Banking Association

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the cyclone, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

  • Workplace rights and responsibilities

    Understand your responsibilities to workers, including what to do if you need to stand down staff due to the cyclone.

    Fair Work Ombudsman

January and February 2025 North Queensland flooding

January 2025 NSW severe weather and storms

  • NSW Government support

    Grants, loans and other assistance for businesses affected by the storms from 15 January 2025.

    NSW Government

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the storms, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

December 2024 Western Victoria bushfires

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Support with your taxes

    The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for for small businesses during bushfire.

    Australian Taxation Office

April 2024 NSW East Coast flooding

  • NSW Government support

    Grants, loans and other assistance for businesses affected by flooding.

    Service NSW

  • Support with your taxes

    The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for flood-affected businesses.

    Australian Taxation Office

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by the floods, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation

March 2024 Tropical Cyclone Megan

  • Freight Subsidy Disaster Assistance

    If you're a primary producer, you may be able to apply for freight subsidy disaster assistance.

    Northern Territory Government

  • Support with your taxes

    The Australian Taxation Office offers support options for flood-affected businesses.

    Australian Taxation Office

  • Small Business Debt Helpline

    Provides help with finding and applying for grants, concession loans and bill relief as well as assistance with your insurance including understanding your policy, making a claim, or dealing with your insurance company.

    Small Business Debt Helpline

  • Disaster Recovery Quick Response Grants

    If your Indigenous corporation has been directly affected by Tropical Cylone Megan, you may be able to apply for a grant up to $20,000.

    Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation