The first cyclone in decades is due to hit our part of Queensland tomorrow.
I’ve never experienced a cyclone before so preparing is a whole new experience for me. My best friend who lives locally used to live further north and had experienced a few cyclones. She asked me a couple of days ago, “Have you been starting to prepare for Alfred?” And I was like “Umm, is that a thing?” Oops. 🙃 She filled me in on the supplies we’ll need, how to secure the yard, etc. it’s “only” a category 2 but is forecasted to bring up to 150 km/hour wind and 500 mms rain, so even a small cyclone can do a lot of damage when you live in a rainforest full of trees that can fall on your roof, and have a creek that runs through the front of your properly that can flood and cut off your road access! Eek.
Since then there’s been lots of advice, warnings etc on how to prepare. Yesterday while I worked in my office Al did a whole lot of shopping and preparing. Everywhere was sold out of batteries (to power our radio which is where we’ll get updates if we lose power/internet), so we’ll try again today. But otherwise we have supplies including fresh water in case the water gets affected.
Alfred is due to hit tomorrow (Thursday) at 11am and at this stage looks like the eye of the storm will hit about 50km south of here, but of course that could change and head straight over us! So pretty sure the kids will be off school Thursday/Friday, and we will all be “hunkering down” at home.
I’m going to attempt to work from home today (Al and O will be around, and maybe E as she’s been home with a cold the last couple of days), and also help Al secure things in the yard. It’s already supposed to be getting windy and rainy this afternoon as the cyclone approaches. I’ve been explaining to the kids about what to expect, O has no idea but E is asking a lot of questions.
Anyone ever experienced a cyclone come through? Or other wild weather? Wish us luck!
This is one kind of disaster that I don’t have to deal with since I live in the middle of the country!! I see that you just posted an update so I will go see how things are going…
Oops- that "guest" comment was me... (Jenny)
Oh boy- as I'm reading this I'm wondering if it has already hit. We have a LOT of experience with hurricanes! A Cat 2 can definitely wreak havoc. I hope you, your home and your family are all okay!!!
We often get the tail-end of hurricanes where I live in Nova Scotia. We've had some pretty big, bad winter storms, too. Sometimes people are without power for weeks (this happened to my parents during Hurricane Arthur in 2014). But thankfully we never get things nearly as strongly as those living in Florida.
I find weather events so terrifying. Nature is such a strong, powerful, and unpredictable force.
Thinking of you and praying for safety and a quick and much lighter-than-expected storm. Hugs <3