Australia: Thousands evacuated as residents brace for cyclone

Thousands of people have been evacuated to safe areas as they await the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Debbie, which is forecast to be the worst since Cyclone Yasi six years ago.




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Hundreds of buildings have been lined with sandbags as business and home owners desperately try to protect their property.

Currently a Category 2 storm, Debbie is expected to become a Category 4 sometime before it makes landfall between Rollingstone and Properpine on Tuesday morning.

Winds of up to 100km/h are expected to develop in the city as early as 4pm today based on Cyclone Debbie's current path.

Once Debbie makes landfall it is expected to bring winds of up to 260km/h.


Read more at Tropical Cyclone Debbie: Thousands evacuated as residents brace for worst cyclone since Yasi - 9news.com.au

Cyclone Debbie: BOM downgrades storm as road access cut to three towns

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Shute Harbour, near Airlie Beach, is littered with debris after Cyclone Debbie.

Damage from Cyclone Debbie has cut all roads to the north Queensland towns of Bowen, Airlie Beach and Proserpine, but there have been no reports of injury from Daydream Island in the Whitsundays, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this morning.

Queensland police located a 30-metre steel hull boat reported missing and run aground on rocks near Whitsunday Island last night, but there were no reports yet on whether the two men on board had been located.

Ms Palaszczuk, meanwhile, rejoiced that a baby girl had been born at the Whitsunday Ambulance Station.

"You know, out of all of this, to see a little miracle, I think brings a smile to a lot of faces," she said.

Fears remain for the safety of people caught in the path of the storm overnight and Queensland emergency services first responders only started to deploy at daybreak.

Ms Palaszczuk has said she was worried about how many people might have been injured but were unable to make contact with emergency services personnel.

"We just don't know how many people are injured, the status of their homes, and what we are hearing is that we are seeing some structural damage in places such as Proserpine," she said.

A wall collapsed on a man at Proserpine at the height of the storm yesterday, but his condition is still not known.

Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox told ABC News 24 Bowen looked like a war zone.

VIDEO and more Cyclone Debbie: BOM downgrades storm as road access cut to three towns - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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Australian Military Deploys Troops to Help Cyclone-Ravaged Communities

QUEENSLAND – Australia’s Military has deployed more than 1000 troops to help cyclone-ravaged communities get back on their feet in north Queensland.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) kicked off Operation Queensland Assist 17 to lend a helping hand with the mammoth clean-up and recovery effort following a formal request for assistance from the Queensland Government.

Acting Chief of Joint Operations, Major General Stuart Smith said the ADF had committed around 1,200 personnel and significant resources to the operation.

“Operating under Joint Task Force 661 (JTF 661), the Defence response will see our sailors, soldiers and airmen undertaking a wide variety of tasks in support of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and other disaster coordination authorities,” Major General Smith said.

Royal Australian Air Force aircraft as well as HMAS Choules, a vessel ideally suited to domestic disaster relief operations, will also be ready to assist.

In consultation with relevant agencies, the military will prioritise areas and activities the ADF is best positioned and suited to support.

“These tasks will include: evacuation; aeromedical transport; search and rescue; assisting to restore critical infrastructure; road and route clearance; emergency food, water, fuel and shelter delivery and distribution; as well reconnaissance, surveillance and damage assessments,” Major General Smith said.

The ADF says it will review its support in consultation with Queensland and Australian Government agencies and will continue to scope options for assistance as the situation evolves.

Australian Military Deploys Troops to Help Cyclone-Ravaged Communities | Chiang Rai Times English Language Newspaper

Ya Betta get the shrimps off the bawbie.

Bad flooding in Brisbane now.
The stranded bull shark story is a bit of a worry; bull sharks combing the flood waters?!!

Then there's this;
http://www.facebook.com/zuppsbrownsp...5084328282194/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

Ya Betta get the shrimps off the bawbie.

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Jeezus CP if your going to talk Oz get it right. For a start they're prawns not shrimps and its a Bahbie not bawbie.
On the bright side the storm saved me from cleaning the windows, washing the car and watering the garden.

Pissed down all day yesterday,blue skies today.:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maanaam

Then there's this;
http://www.facebook.com/zuppsbrownsp...5084328282194/

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Good dog! Brings home dinner.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by misskit

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maanaam

Then there's this;
http://www.facebook.com/zuppsbrownsp...5084328282194/

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Good dog! Brings home dinner.

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Reminded me of this

https://teakdoor.com/pacific-islands-...in-fiji-3.html

posts 45 and 62. Drum did get one once.

I never realised so many Queenslanders still lived in shanty towns.