Cyclone Yasi: It’s now a waiting game
With the eye of the cyclone and the worst of the storm now over, evacuated Blue Care residents in Townsville await to hear how their facility fared against the elements.
Picture: Bureau of Meterology
By Yasmin Noone
First it was torrential rain. Then came mass floodings and finally, a category five tropical cyclone.
In the last month, Queensland has endured more than its fair share of mother nature’s beatings. But the turning point for community health and residential aged care provider, Blue Care, will arrive in a few hours time.
That will be when the danger posed by the cyclone, the ferocious winds and the heavy rain will pass, when some communities on the tropical coast receive the ‘all clear’ to go outdoors again and when the staff at Blue Care’s Garden Settlement facility in Townsville find out whether or not their evacuated workplace has been destroyed.
“It’s still raining and windy… but the worst of it has definitely passed,” said Robyn Batten, executive director of Blue Care.
“We are not sure whether the [Townsville] facility will be habitable or not. If not, we have plans in place to move residents, as discussed with their families.”
Around 100 residents from Blue Care’s Townsville facility were evacuated on Tuesday and are now on safe, dry ground at the nearby evacuation centre at Ignatius Hall.
Evacuation, Ms Batten said, “is a huge job and the army assisted us. It takes about six or seven hours to complete. You have to carefully help residents to move but you also take a lot of equipment, food, mattresses, and medical and continence products”.
Despite the enormity of the disaster experienced, Ms Batten reported that the evacuated residents and staff are all in good spirits.
“People are very buoyant this morning and relieved in that in Townsville, at least [the cyclone] wasn’t as bad as feared.”
All the residents in Blue Care aged care facilities in Ingham, Cairns and Mareeba are safe and all possible preparations have been made to ensure their continued safety.
Visits to Blue Care community centres in the cyclone zone ceased as of midday yesterday. Preparations were made for at risk clients and names were provided to the SES.
But, Ms Batten said, all eyes are now on the small town of Tully (210 kilometres north of Townsville) where one of Blue Care’s community centres is located.
“We can’t contact staff there because the communication is down. People need to contact emergency services.”
Ms Batten said that staff will contact families of residents to let them know what is happening once the lines of communication are restored.
“People definitely expect floods and cyclones in Queensland and they do plan for these events and practice evacuating.
“People are very well prepared and Blue Care staff, who are wonderful, followed the evacuation plans. That is what keeps everyone safe and we are very grateful for all of that.
“We’ve had an enormous amount of support from colleagues and aged care providers interstate, which we greatly appreciate.
“We appreciate their willingness to assist us though what has been a very difficult time.”
Up-to-date Cyclone Yasi information
The Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane, issued the following advice this morning: “A cyclone warning is current for coastal and island communities from Port Douglas to Ayr, extending west across the interior to the Northern Territory border, including Mt Isa and Longreach.
“At 10am EST, Tropical Cyclone Yasi, Category 2, was estimated to be 150 kilometres south southwest of Georgetown and 385 kilometres east northeast of Mt Isa and moving west southwest at 40 kilometres per hour.
“Yasi continues to weaken, but it is producing heavy rain and dangerous wind gusts about the tropical coast and across the tropical interior.
“The destructive core of Yasi, with gusts in excess of 125 km/h, will weaken as it continues to move in a west-southwesterly direction. Overnight TC Yasi will be near Mt Isa as a tropical depression.
“Damaging winds, with gusts above 90 km/hr, are occurring along the coast between Cardwell and Ayr and also through much of the tropical interior. These winds are forecast to extend to the Northern Territory border including Longreach and Mount Isa, while easing about coastal parts during the afternoon.
“…Heavy rains will continue about the coast and will result in a continuation of localised and river flooding.
“Severe thunderstorms and heavy rains are also forecast to move with the cyclone and cause localised flooding and possible river flooding across the interior.
“People in the path of the dangerous cyclone should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter while the destructive winds continue.
– Do not venture outside if you find yourself in the eye of the cyclone; destructive winds from a different direction could resume at any time.
– Follow the advice or directions of Police, Emergency Services personnel and local authorities.”
Helpful contact information
For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland’s Disaster Management Services website by clicking here.
For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service [SES] on 132 500) for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).
Relatives of Blue Care residents wishing to find out information about their family member should call 1800 838 929.
For updates about Blue Care facilities click here.
To contact Lifeline Australia, click here or call 13 11 14.
