The 2011 Brisbane floods affected residents’ health

To the Editor: The frequency and intensity of floods and other weather-related disasters is likely to increase with climate change.1 These disasters may affect both the physical and mental health of people who are directly affected.2,3 The extensive rainfall and subsequent flooding experienced throughout Queensland in December 2010 and January 2011 had significant impacts on large sections of the population.4 To assess the health impacts of the 2011 floods on residents of the greater Brisbane region, we conducted a postal survey in 12 flood-affected electorates in July 2011.