Too late to leave: residents told to bunker down (Cyclone Yasi)

[KeepItReal]

Source: Brisbane Times



Evacuation centres in Cairns are now full and north Queensland residents have been told they must stay put ahead of Cyclone Yasi's arrival.

With wind speeds of 295km/h recorded, storm surges of up to 7 metres have been predicted to hit Cardwell, between Townsville and Cairns, as the cyclone's expected arrival at midnight combines with a high tide.
...
‘Some areas are already experiencing strong wind gusts up to 125km/h which will increase throughout the afternoon and evening,’’ Cairns Regional Council said in a statement.

‘‘Travelling by vehicle or on foot is unsafe. All evacuation centres are full and residents are urged to stay where they are now for the next 24 hours.’’


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/too-late-to-leave-residents-told-to-bunker-down-20110201-1acgp.html

[Suich]

1. Follow it here:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/cyclone-season-2010-2011/

[earcandle]

2. Are Cheney and NOAA crafting weather disasters now? Via satelites?

[Canuckistanian]

3. Latest Radar pic

[Odin2005]

4. That is a gigantic storm!

It extends from New Guinea to the border of New South Wales! :wow:

[Canuckistanian]

16. Kind of puts our little dusting of snow to shame, doesn't it?

You can't shovel 12m waves crashing into your house, can you?

[stockholmer]

5. Advice given to Australians on Cat 5 Cyclone Yasi: “Do not bother to pack bags.Just grab each other"

Source: Guardian.co.uk

Thousands of Australians have left their homes for evacuation centres, as Cyclone Yasi - predicted to be the worst in the country's history, nears the Queensland coast. Many residents have stocked up on food and bedded down in shelters to protect themselves from the prospect of furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen there in generations.

Cyclone Yasi was upgraded overnight to a category five storm – the highest – and is due to hit the coast near Cairns at about midnight local time.



live radar loop http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR192.loop.shtml

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/02/cyclone-yasi-category-five-australians-flee-queensland-coast

---

quake in NZ, then the floods, now this, down under can't catch a break

[Siwsan]

6. Suddenly, this blizzard doesn't seem so bad

The Aussie situation sure puts this snow situation into perspective. It's cold, it's windy, it's very inconvenient, but as long as I stay off the roads, I am relatively safe. The biggest danger is a power outage, but I have a fireplace. Yea, best to thank my lucky snowflakes.

[elias49]

7. Agreed.

We're getting snow-buried today in New Hampshire but my house isn't going to blow away.
My local grocery isn't going to be left in ruins
Everything I've worked for over my 58 years isn't at risk of being obliterated.
I just can't imagine....

[iamjoy]

8. Are Pets Allowed?

Please, please tell me the shelters have some kind of provision for pets. For many people, their pets are family. Some of them may risk their own lives and avoid evacuating their home if it means leaving their pets.

of course, by pets I mean smaller animals that are more commonly part of a household I can understand shelters not accommodating horses, pigs, etc. even though they may be just as important to some people.

[Esra Star]

9. Yes, pets are allowed to accompany their owners to safety.

This has been the case for a number of years now.

Cheers

[Matilda]

15. In some shelters, such as schools and halls, no.

Pets were airlifted to the RSPCA shelter in Brisbane yesterday though, by special flights, and will be fostered out from there. I was happy to read this yesterday, because I'm always concerned about the animals in these situations.

The RSPCA called for special evacuation plans after the flooding, asking for similar regulations that apparently were brought in after Katrina, so this is a recent development.

Some evacuation centres now make provision for pets, but this doesn't apply to every place - I would guess that in some smaller shelters, there simply isn't space, because animals would have to be kept separate for health reasons.

[KewlKat]

10. some live coverage, streaming

http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/

[txwhitedove]

11. As a survivor of H.Katrina, my heart goes out to Aussies in the path of this storm.

:cry:

[Joanne98]

12. Power cut to 90,000 homes

Power cuts spread across state's northStrong winds batter North QueenslandTides could surge up to 7m
Residents bunkering down in homes

Wind speeds nearly 300km/h recorded

Almost 90,000 homes are now without power in north Queensland, including the entire Townsville CBD, as the effects of Cyclone Yasi continue to mount.

Speaking at a 10.30pm press conference, Premier Anna Bligh said evacuation centres were among those buildings to lose power.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/power-cut-to-90000-homes-20110201-1acgp.html

[marions ghost]

13. I know someone at Innisfail, QLD

she made it through Cyclone Larry, and now this...

This is one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth--a tropical paradise and the site of the Great Barrier Reef. Magical, but vulnerable.

This is a tragedy for Australia and those who want to visit. Bushfires, floods, cyclones--Down Under has been having a hard time.

Send prayers and well wishes.

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. I lived through Hugo.

If it's a Cat 5, may God have mercy on them. I don't usually invoke any diety. There is no way to prepare for those kinds of winds and storm surge.

Image of Yasi:



Cyclone Yasi is expected to hit between Innisfail and Cardwell.