North Queenslanders prepare for deadly Category 5 cyclone

Preparing for a Historic Cyclone in Far North Queensland

As the remote and sparsely populated tip of Far North Queensland braced for the arrival of one of the most powerful cyclones in generations, communities were preparing for a rare and potentially devastating event. Cyclone Narelle, which intensified to category 5 in the 24 hours before its expected impact mid-morning on Friday, was moving rapidly across the Coral Sea towards the coastline.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli addressed the public during a briefing, highlighting the significant challenges that the storm would bring. He warned of strong winds, potential storm surges, heavy rainfall, and the risk of flash flooding. Crisafulli urged residents living between Cape Tribulation and Lockhart River to take the situation seriously, emphasizing that this was a rare and large-scale event.

“If a category 5 system crosses the coast in this location, it’ll be the first time that’s happened in over 100 years,” he said. “And if a category 5 system crosses the Queensland coast, it’ll be just the fourth time that’s happened in half a century.”

Emergency Response and Preparedness

In preparation for the storm, the army was on standby, along with swift water rescue crews. Hundreds of energy workers were also deployed to the area, with helicopters, barges, and generators positioned to ensure that electricity infrastructure remained as functional as possible.

Crisafulli expressed confidence in the resilience of Queenslanders, stating that he believed they would “do the right thing” and look out for their neighbors. “I assure you we can get through it, if communities take it seriously, if they look out for each other, if they prepare well now, if they heed advice,” he said.

“I have every faith that we’ll get through it, and then we move on to a fulsome recovery.”

Impact on Local Communities

The largest town in Narelle’s predicted path was Coen, a small community with a population of less than 400 residents, most of whom are Indigenous. Robyn Holmes, the mayor of Cook Shire Council, described the community as resilient, noting that they had experience managing wet season events.

“Our communities have strong collective experience in managing wet season events, so this is nothing new. The intensity is just escalated,” she said.

Police were stationed in Coen and other towns such as Cooktown, Lockhart River, Wujal Wujal, and Laura, where the majority of people were sheltering. Other locations, including Port Stewart and the resort on Lizard Island, had been evacuated.

Tracking the Storm’s Path

Cyclone Narelle formed in the Coral Sea between Queensland’s east coast and Vanuatu, and was upgraded to tropical cyclone status on Tuesday afternoon. It was expected to weaken as it crossed Queensland but could strengthen again as it moved west over the Gulf of Carpentaria towards the Northern Territory.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that Narelle’s impact could coincide with peak tides, leading to coastal flooding and further inland flooding in already saturated river catchments.

Caution Against Complacency

Earlier in the week, the state’s disaster co-ordinator, Chris Stream, urged Far North Queenslanders not to be complacent about the dangers of cyclonic winds. “This is not the opportunity for you to be outside during the cyclone, getting that TikTok moment – do not do it,” he said. “A piece of debris being propelled at over 100km/h will kill you.”

Residents were encouraged to stay informed and follow official advice to ensure their safety during the storm.