Redland City Council has issued a Watch and Act alert for Redlands Coast ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is expected to cross the south-east Queensland coast later this week.
Residents who feel unsafe in their homes are urged to leave now and take shelter with friends or family. This particularly applies to island residents as ferry services will be impacted.
Those who decide to stay should prepare now.
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Redland Local Disaster Management Group deputy chair and Acting Mayor Julie Talty said Council was preparing for the impacts of the cyclone.
“Council teams are on the ground assisting with work such as clearing drains and attending to downed trees.
“Any road damage or other issues should be reported to Council on 3829 8999, before, during and after the event.
“The best thing our residents and visitors can do is be prepared.”
Ferry services
Amity Trader ferries to Coochiemudlo Island and Sealink ferries to North Stradbroke Island will stop on Tuesday 4 March.
Amity Trader’s last vehicle barge to Coochiemudlo Island will leave from Victoria Point at 11am. The last passenger ferries will leave from Coochiemudlo Island at 6.45pm and from Victoria Point at 7pm.
Amity Trader has advised it will reinstate both services on Friday 7 March, dependent on weather conditions.
Sealink’s passenger ferry to North Stradbroke Island will cease operations on Tuesday 4 March, with the final ferry leaving Dunwich at 10.45am.
Vehicle ferries are still operating but Sealink advises vehicle ferries will likely not be running on Wednesday and Thursday.
Sealink passenger and vehicle ferries to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands are currently operating as normal, but services may be cancelled on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Stradbroke Flyer has advised there may be restricted services on Wednesday and Thursday with the possibility of no services from Friday to Sunday.
Residents and visitors should monitor the website and Facebook pages of the ferry service providers for the latest information.
INFORMATION ON HOW TO PREPARE
Check or make an emergency kit:
- Find out how to get ready for a tropical cyclone and pack an emergency kit at: https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/get-prepared
Prepare your property:
- Fill your car with fuel or charge it. Park it undercover. Do not park under a tree.
- Put away or tie down outside items like furniture, gas bottles, and play equipment.
- If your home is not safe, plan to stay with family or friends.
- If you are near the beach or a coastal waterway, storm surge could cause flooding. This is dangerous. Decide now where you will evacuate to.
- Close cyclone shutters if you have them, or cover windows with plywood, mattress, or heavy blanket.
- Find out how to safely turn off power, solar, water, and gas to your house. Be ready to turn it off if told to.
- Check your family, friends and neighbours know what to do. Help them if you can.
If you find it hard to move quickly or have special or medical needs:
- Use your Person-Centred Emergency Plan (P-CEP) now if you have one.
- Make sure you have enough medicine for at least one week. If anyone in your house uses powered medical equipment, like a dialysis machine or ventilator, decide now where you will go in case you lose power.
- Call your support person or service to organise transport if you need to leave.
- Leaving early is safer than waiting.
Water Transport:
- Council has been advised that all passenger ferries and vehicle ferries to and from North Stradbroke Island, Coochiemudlo Island and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands will be impacted from tomorrow. Residents and visitors should check with their ferry operator for changes. Operators have cyclone plans in place.
- SeaLink North Stradbroke Island: sealink.com.au/north-stradbroke-island/
- SeaLink SMBI: sealink.com.au/bay-islands/
- Amity Trader: (07) 38206557.
If you are a tourist, visitor, camper or caravanner:
- Campers and caravanners should start packing up now.
- If you do not need to be in the warning area, leave now. Check road conditions and plan your route before you leave.
- If you stay, ask accommodation staff where to shelter if the cyclone comes.
Sandbagging stations:
- Residents who wish to prepare their properties for wet weather are reminded that Council has several sandbag stations available on the mainland and islands. See Council’s disaster dashboard for details https://disaster.redland.qld.gov.au/
- Please note, enclosed shoes must be worn at all Council’s sandbag stations. Maximum of 10 bags per vehicle.
- For more information about sandbags, including storage, disposal and how to use, visit the disaster plan website: https://www.redlandsdisasterplan.com.au/before/sandbags-and-sandbagging-stations/
For more information:
- Follow our local council disaster dashboard here https://disaster.redland.qld.gov.au/
- Listen to your local radio 612 ABC AM and Bay FM 100.3.
- For power outage information go to com.au.
- Check the latest weather, warnings, rainfall, and river heights at the Bureau of Meteorology Queensland website.
- Check road closures at the QLD Traffic website or for phone service call 13 19 40.
- Check disruptions to public transport at the Translink website.
