Brisbane is no stranger to nature’s fury, but the arrival of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred on March 8, 2025, has left the city reeling once again. As the swollen Brisbane River and its network of creeks unleashed flash flooding across numerous suburbs, local businesses—from quaint cafes to bustling retailers—grappled with the aftermath of this rare cyclonic event. Suburbs like West End, Ashgrove, Morningside, Rocklea, and Stones Corner bore the brunt, with Norman Creek bursting its banks and inundating streets like Flowers and Churchill in Woolloongabba. The impact was staggering: over 330,000 homes and businesses lost power, and insured losses were estimated at $2 billion, though the downgrade of Alfred to a tropical low before landfall mitigated some fears. Yet, for business owners, the road to recovery is just beginning, with many preparing to rebuild over the coming days and weeks through a mix of community support and sheer determination.
Cyclones, born over warm ocean waters, form when sea surface temperatures exceed 26.5°C, fueling a low-pressure system with a warm core and winds spiralling inward at speeds of at least 63 km/h. They often bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and flash flooding, toppling power lines, uprooting trees, and flooding properties—disruptions that can weaken local economies. Cyclone Alfred’s journey began weeks ago, meandering 600 km east of the Queensland-NSW border before turning west at a sluggish 7 km/h. Initially forecast to strike as a Category 2 system, it hit between Brisbane and Maroochydore on Saturday night, downgraded to a tropical low but still packing a punch with 800 mm of rain in some areas and winds gusting up to 140 km/h. Brisbane caught squarely in its path, faced the deluge due to its position on a flood-prone river system and a wet summer that had already saturated the ground, amplifying the risk of inundation.
The city’s recent history with floods—most notably in 1974, 2011, and 2022—has forged a resilient spirit among its 2.5 million residents. In 1974, Cyclone Wanda dumped 642 mm of rain in three days, flooding 13,500 homes and claiming 16 lives. The 2011 floods saw the Brisbane River breach its banks, submerging 20,000 properties, while 2022 brought another round of devastation, particularly in West End, where businesses along Montague Road were hit hard. Each time, Brisbanites rallied: neighbours doorknocked to warn of rising waters, volunteers distributed sandbags, and communities opened evacuation centres. This time, as Alfred approached, the response was swift—hundreds of police recruits doorknocked at-risk coastal properties, and 330,000 sandbags were deployed. Despite the anxiety, no lives were lost in Queensland, a testament to the city’s preparedness and the mantra “if it’s flooded, forget it,” which kept residents from taking unnecessary risks.
As the waters recede, Brisbane’s business owners are taking their first steps toward normalcy. In Ashgrove, where gale-force winds brought down trees overnight, cafe owners are clearing debris and awaiting power restoration, expected to take over a week for some. In Stones Corner, inundated by flash flooding, boutique shops assess water damage while coordinating with insurers. Along the Brisbane River, restaurants at Eagle Street Pier and Howard Smith Wharves, which had preemptively moved furniture indoors, are planning to reopen buoyed by returning foot traffic as early as this week. Coles supermarkets, many shuttered during the storm, are reopening where power is restored, ensuring residents can restock essentials. With everyone’s efforts—volunteers aiding clean-ups, the SES responding to over 6,000 calls, and the government fast-tracking disaster payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child—Brisbane is poised to rise again, its streets humming with life as the city stitches itself back together.
*The concepts and imagery in this article are based on observation and opinions of the writer and should not be taken as explicitly factual.
