Gothic.net Community - View Single Post - Category 5 Cyclone Hits Coast of Australia

Empty_Purple_Stars · 03-19-2006, 07:12 PM

Here's another update;

Massive cyclone hits Australia
Sunday, March 19, 2006; Posted: 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30 GMT)

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- A powerful tropical cyclone packing winds of up to 290 kilometers per hour (180 mph) has slammed into Australia's northeastern coast Monday after more than 1,000 tourists and local residents were evacuated to higher ground, the weather bureau said.

Tropical cyclone Larry smashed into the coastal community of Innisfail, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Cairns, a popular jumping-off point for the Great Barrier Reef, forecaster Jonty Hall said.

Police say three people have been reported injured so far in the cyclone.

The weather bureau on Monday upgraded the storm to a category five -- the strongest category possible -- and thousands of local residents were evacuated ahead of the cyclone's arrival.

The storm has been subsequently downgraded to a category four as it loses strength after making landfall.

An unidentified police spokeswoman told the Australian Associated Press the storm had ripped roofs off buildings throughout Innisfail and sent several trees crashing across roads.

Police had been unable to leave the station, despite hundreds of calls for help, she said.

"Homes are literally crumbling around them," the spokeswoman told AAP.

A motel proprietor told Australia's Sky News TV that residents of Innisfail ventured out as the calm of the eye of the storm passed over the town.

She said the town looked as if a bomb had hit it with trees uprooted and tin and roofing iron scattered everywhere.

Townsfolk then retreated back indoors as the winds and rains returned.

Innisfail Hospital director of nursing Leslie Harris said wards had been cleared Sunday to make way for possible cyclone victims.

"We haven't had anyone brought in yet but we have taken measures to free up beds," she said.

A spokeswoman for the Queensland Department of Emergency services said disaster and rescue crews were waiting for the winds to ease before going out to assess the damage.

"It's just a waiting game. At this point we don't know what the extent of the damage will be," said the spokeswoman, who did not give her name citing agency policy. "We're very well prepared."

Around 109 people were evacuated from the low-lying areas of Innisfail on Sunday, she said, as weather forecasters predicted the storm could cause sea levels to rise up to four meters (13 feet) above the normal tides.

"The storm surge is expected to be three to four meters above the tide height," the spokeswoman said. "What actually happens (in a cyclone) is that the majority of fatalities are as a result of floods."

Weather bureau forecaster Hall said conditions were "terrible" in the region, and warned of surging coastal tides and gale force winds along a 300-kilometer (186-mile) stretch of coast in northeastern Queensland.

"There's extremely dangerous conditions," he said. "It doesn't get much worse than this."

The weather bureau said destructive winds were occurring along the exposed coast from Port Douglas, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Cairns, to Ingham, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south.

Late Sunday, Queensland state Counter Disaster and Rescue Services executive director Frank Pagano compared the potential force of Larry to Katrina, which ravaged the United States' Gulf states in August last year, killing more than 1,300 people.

"This is the most devastating cyclone that we could potentially see on the east coast of Queensland for decades ... there is going to be destruction," Pagano told reporters in the state capital of Brisbane.

Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Web site advised: "People in the path of this very dangerous cyclone should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter -- above the expected water level -- while the very destructive winds continue."

"The sea is likely to steadily rise up to a level which will be significantly above the normal tide, with damaging waves, strong currents and flooding of low-lying areas extending some way inland."

Queensland state Premier Peter Beattie declared a disaster situation, giving local governments the power to enforce mandatory evacuations.

Beattie said it was the worst storm to hit northeastern Australia in recent memory.

"We are very concerned about it, it's the worst cyclone we've had in decades," Beattie told the Nine television network Monday.

SOURCE

03-19-2006, 07:12 PM	#8
Empty_Purple_Stars Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Right Here Posts: 3,442	Here's another update; Massive cyclone hits Australia Sunday, March 19, 2006; Posted: 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30 GMT) SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- A powerful tropical cyclone packing winds of up to 290 kilometers per hour (180 mph) has slammed into Australia's northeastern coast Monday after more than 1,000 tourists and local residents were evacuated to higher ground, the weather bureau said. Tropical cyclone Larry smashed into the coastal community of Innisfail, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Cairns, a popular jumping-off point for the Great Barrier Reef, forecaster Jonty Hall said. Police say three people have been reported injured so far in the cyclone. The weather bureau on Monday upgraded the storm to a category five -- the strongest category possible -- and thousands of local residents were evacuated ahead of the cyclone's arrival. The storm has been subsequently downgraded to a category four as it loses strength after making landfall. An unidentified police spokeswoman told the Australian Associated Press the storm had ripped roofs off buildings throughout Innisfail and sent several trees crashing across roads. Police had been unable to leave the station, despite hundreds of calls for help, she said. "Homes are literally crumbling around them," the spokeswoman told AAP. A motel proprietor told Australia's Sky News TV that residents of Innisfail ventured out as the calm of the eye of the storm passed over the town. She said the town looked as if a bomb had hit it with trees uprooted and tin and roofing iron scattered everywhere. Townsfolk then retreated back indoors as the winds and rains returned. Innisfail Hospital director of nursing Leslie Harris said wards had been cleared Sunday to make way for possible cyclone victims. "We haven't had anyone brought in yet but we have taken measures to free up beds," she said. A spokeswoman for the Queensland Department of Emergency services said disaster and rescue crews were waiting for the winds to ease before going out to assess the damage. "It's just a waiting game. At this point we don't know what the extent of the damage will be," said the spokeswoman, who did not give her name citing agency policy. "We're very well prepared." Around 109 people were evacuated from the low-lying areas of Innisfail on Sunday, she said, as weather forecasters predicted the storm could cause sea levels to rise up to four meters (13 feet) above the normal tides. "The storm surge is expected to be three to four meters above the tide height," the spokeswoman said. "What actually happens (in a cyclone) is that the majority of fatalities are as a result of floods." Weather bureau forecaster Hall said conditions were "terrible" in the region, and warned of surging coastal tides and gale force winds along a 300-kilometer (186-mile) stretch of coast in northeastern Queensland. "There's extremely dangerous conditions," he said. "It doesn't get much worse than this." The weather bureau said destructive winds were occurring along the exposed coast from Port Douglas, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Cairns, to Ingham, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south. Late Sunday, Queensland state Counter Disaster and Rescue Services executive director Frank Pagano compared the potential force of Larry to Katrina, which ravaged the United States' Gulf states in August last year, killing more than 1,300 people. "This is the most devastating cyclone that we could potentially see on the east coast of Queensland for decades ... there is going to be destruction," Pagano told reporters in the state capital of Brisbane. Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Center Web site advised: "People in the path of this very dangerous cyclone should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter -- above the expected water level -- while the very destructive winds continue." "The sea is likely to steadily rise up to a level which will be significantly above the normal tide, with damaging waves, strong currents and flooding of low-lying areas extending some way inland." Queensland state Premier Peter Beattie declared a disaster situation, giving local governments the power to enforce mandatory evacuations. Beattie said it was the worst storm to hit northeastern Australia in recent memory. "We are very concerned about it, it's the worst cyclone we've had in decades," Beattie told the Nine television network Monday. SOURCE