South East Queenslanders are being asked to stay home unless they live in a storm surge or flood zone, in which case they are being urged to stay with a friend or family, check in at a hotel or visit an evacuation centre as Cyclone Alfred creeps up on the coast.
“If it crosses at high tide in the middle of the night, storm surge areas are the last place you want to be,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said in his latest address, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
People outside evacuation zones are being asked to stay inside during March 6 and 7, at least.
Currently, hundreds of community workers including State Emergency Service and police recruits are door-knocking high-risk areas, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been taken off stand-by and is now “engaged.”
As of 11 a.m. Brisbane time (12 noon Sydney time) on March 5, 68 evacuations from South Stradbroke Island had been carried out with more expected through the day.
Residents are being reminded to tether items in their yards and to clear any debris ahead of time.
“We’re now into the phase where it’s hours rather than days, but we’ve still got time,” Crisafulli said.
For those in high-risk zones, the premier said there was still time to plan an evacuation route, but the window for getting out was “closing fast.”
“I have every faith that the state will come through this,” he said.
“We’re asking a very large population to stay connected and be prepared.
“One thing’s for certain and that’s there will be a cyclone crossing the coast.”
While delivering the media conference, Crisafulli announced he had just received new information that a “red alert” was in place for all vessels from Double Island Point to Coolangatta, and they must not leave their moorings from noon on March 5.
Crisafulli said the government is currently working with aged care providers, vulnerable, and homeless people.
Other preparations include increasing bandwidth capacity to improve emergency messaging, and having rescue vessels at the ready in key locations.
A total of 180 swift water rescue experts have been deployed in the most-likely affected area between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Helicopters with winches are also on standby, while 1,000 Ergon Energy crew members are prepared since “restoring electricity will be a huge, huge thing,” according to Crisafulli.
The premier says the South East Queensland region is already moving into damaging and destructive winds, and major roads and bridges will be closed once winds reach a 90-kilometre per hour “trigger point.”
On March 6 and 7, elective surgeries will be postponed and public transport will cease to operate on those two days at a minimum.
PM: ‘No Political Parties Here’
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese brushed off questions about a potential federal election date and speculation about its delay due to Cyclone Alfred.“There are no political parties here, there are no borders between New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, just Australians working together,” he told reporters.
Albanese met with NSW Premier Chris Minns on March 4, before flying into Queensland for an initial briefing alongside Emergency Management and Cities Jenny McAllister.
“This is a rate event, the governments across the board are taking this seriously and Queenslanders and those on the NSW north coast need to do so as well,” Albanese said.
“There’s no Tweed border here, this is not recognised by the cyclone and this certainly should not be recognised by the government’s responses,” he said.
Albanese said the government had also put plans in place so that parents would not be out of pocket, should they miss childcare during the event.
Refuge Established
A cyclone refuge is being established at Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds, with the focus on the immediate protection of life. The centre has been modelled on similar former shelters in the state’s north.While it is not a long-term stay option according to Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, the centre will help protect those with no other place to go.
Following the brunt of the weather event, longer term evacuation centres and other services will be provided.
Schrinner echoed the sentiments of the premier in asking locals to stay home unless their home was in an evacuation zone.
Life-Threatening Floods Expected
The cyclone is sitting about 400 kilometres east of Brisbane, moving at 11 kilometres an hour towards South East Queensland.Most current modelling suggests it will remain at a category two event, but there is a degree of possibility that it may intensify.
Overnight between March 6 and 7 remains the estimated time of Alfred crossing the coast, with expected winds of 95km/h, and gusts reaching 130km/h.
Meteorologists say the southern side of the cyclone will likely suffer the worst damage.
Coastal hazards for large waves and abnormally high tides, as well as heavy rain remain in place, with predicted rainfall totals of up to 800mm into Saturday, at a daily rate of 200-400mm.
Weather experts said the level of rainfall is expected to produce “life-threatening” flooding from Queensland and into NSW.
Every council in affected areas has an evacuation centre established and locals should check with their local government for more details.
