Effects of cyclone likely to last longer as timing of landfall is delayed

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Cyclone Alfred will be the first to make landfall in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales in 50 years so it's understandable many people won't have any experience with cyclones.

Transcript

00:00Cyclones can be really very long-duration events.

00:06So this event's going to be moving very slowly.

00:08We're going to be under severe winds

00:11that are forecast to be hanging around for several hours.

00:14So people have got to be really prepared in their own minds

00:18and what they've got them in their house,

00:21wherever they're sheltering their house,

00:23to be really just bunkered down there

00:25for quite a few hours around it.

00:27The noise can be really huge.

00:30There's also going to be potential for a lot of wind-driven rain

00:33getting into our buildings, under our doors, under our windows,

00:36because in this type of wind, the wind's coming horizontally.

00:40So it's getting blown up, our roof going up,

00:43the valley gutters maybe dropping down into our ceilings and space,

00:46depending on the wind speed, the type of house, all of those things.

00:49So the big thing with people is it's just going to take so long

00:53and then afterwards there will probably be no power for several days.

00:57So we've just got to be really patient and prepared.

00:59And just to really do all your preparations beforehand.

01:02So that includes cleaning up all the yards around,

01:06make sure nothing can be moved by the wind.

01:09Like, if you can move it,

01:10the wind is definitely going to be able to move it.

01:12So that's all big pot plants.

01:14It's pulling down your shade cloth structures.

01:16It's pruning away stuff,

01:17so less chance of your windows getting broken by debris,

01:21which then causes pressure to suddenly come in

01:24and cause a great big load on the house,

01:26plus all the wind and water coming in.

01:28So make sure we've got the prep.

01:30So you've worked out which room you're going to be sheltering in,

01:33usually the smallest room near a corridor,

01:36nothing with any big windows in it,

01:39and that you've got your water, your food,

01:42lots of battery things to keep your phones going,

01:46provided the network's up and running afterwards and those things.

01:51Thanks.

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