A Wollongong couple has told how they are “scared stiff” as Cyclone Debbie bears down on the Queensland coast.
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Geoffrey and Agnes Lawler were holidaying in Airlie Beach, visiting their son, and said they were worried about the coming cyclone.
“I'm scared stiff,” Ms Lawler said.
More than 25,000 Mackay residents have been told by the Queensland premier to flee as Cyclone Debbie intensifies just hours from landfall, bringing with it a possibly destructive storm surge.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Monday afternoon that Cyclone Debbie was due to intensify into a category 4 by 1am the following morning and bring surges of up to 2.5 metres.
"Because of the intensity of the cyclone and the timing at the moment that it's due to cross land, we are very concerned at the moment about the prospective tidal surge in Mackay," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"I would rather take these precautionary measures now than have people's lives put at risk."
Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said people who could move out of low-lying areas should move immediately.
"Don't wait until tomorrow as you will not be able to move," he said.
"We will do everything we can through emergency services to try and support and assist residents in those low-lying areas... and we will also be getting messages out to help the vulnerable.
"I stress that what we would like people to do is take care of their neighbours as well... it's the Queensland, the Australian way.
"We don't want to see any tragedies occur as a result of this storm... we can't take chances with people's lives."
Residents were encouraged to go to their council websites and check the flood maps and then take action.
Mr Stewart said an evacuation of this magnitude had never been done before.
"This is right across Mackay because of the unique landscape and low-lying areas," he said.
"I know it's a big ask to move this many people but that's the information BoM (the Bureau of Meteorology) is providing us at the moment and because of the time frame and closing window of opportunity for people to move, we just want people to be safe and they can do that if they take action."
With a mass evacuation under way, Mr Stewart advised residents on the road to take it easy, be patient and drive to the conditions.
Backpackers brace for Cyclone Debbie
Airlie Beach tourists and localsare feeling anxious about the cyclone brewing off the north Queensland coast.
But backpackers, it seems, don't have the same worry, with a number even trying to head north to Townsville ahead of the storm.
Gemma and Matt Dungey who work at the Big Four Caravan Park said they had been through a category 2 cyclone before, but Tropical Cyclone Debbie is expected to intensify to a category 4 before crossing the coast on Tuesday.
"We had to warn all the guests about it, I did get home feeling a bit anxious," Ms Dungey said.
A staff member at a backpackers who declined to be named said about 15 planned to head north despite the weather warnings.
"The backpackers don't believe it," she said.
"I just told them to take water, money, food."
Staff have been warning backpackers to withdraw money while they can and bunker down in their rooms if the cyclone crosses at Airlie Beach.
"We want everyone to stay safe," she said.
She said everything was shut until Wednesday at least and tours were cancelled.
Some residents, like shop owner Maja Zwolsman, are making the most of the 20,000 sandbags that have been made available by the Townsville City Council.
"Shop is sandbagged. Home is prepared. Now we wait," Ms Zwolsman said on Sunday. "We use whatever is handy for sandbagging," she added.
"We've prepared as best we can and that's the best we can do."
While some tourists are hoping to ride out the storm or even continue their travels across the region, Tom and Laura Britton are planning to cut their losses and take flight before the storm hits.
The Canadian couple had been on a bare boat, booked for a week of cruising around the Whitsundays but were called back to the marina on Saturday. With their flight from Proserpine cancelled on Sunday morning, the pair are now hoping to drive to Brisbane to fly on to Melbourne from there.
"It's been an interesting turn of events," Mr Birtton said.
"We enjoyed being on the boat so it's a little disappointing, but we have a couple of days credit so we'll come back," Ms Britton said.
Mr Britton agreed, and said they would happily come back to North Queensland.
"Were not at all put off."
Flights grounded
Meanwhile, flights to north east Queensland have been grounded in anticipation of the storm's arrival.
Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas have cancelled flights to and from Townsville airport for Monday and Tuesday.
The airlines have also cancelled some flights into and out of Mackay airport.
All flights to Hamilton Island are cancelled for Monday.
Schools between Ayr and Proserpine will be closed on Monday, with further closures likely due to conditions associated with the cyclone.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said charter boats along the coast had been secured, ports closed and people on islands had been told to seek shelter.
smh.com.au