The cyclone took longer to reach the coast than expected and increased in intensity to a category 4 storm. Just as Australians started to comprehend the extent of the initial damage, large areas of Queensland were struck by sudden and severe floods that followed in the cyclone’s wake. [36] Multiple sections of the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Mackay were submerged by floodwaters, prompting its closure. [43] This triggered heavy rainfall in the Northern Rivers and led to significant flooding in the Tweed, Lismore, Byron, Richmond Valley, Kyogle and Ballina local government areas. With the storm potentially coinciding with high tide, it was estimated that water rise in some areas could potentially exceed 7 m (23 ft). [42], Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie continued to move south and merged with a cold front moving up the north coast of New South Wales. Tropical Cyclone (TC) Debbie made landfall as a Category 4 Severe Tropical Cyclone near Airlie Beach on 28 March 2017. [1] The remnants of Debbie brought heavy rainfall—torrential rains in many areas—that resulted in flooding in large parts of the land areas across which it tracked, before moving out over the Pacific Ocean on Friday 31 March. Australian authorities fear people may have drowned as a flood emergency grips two states in the wake of Cyclone Debbie. PM hails post-Brexit free trade deal with EU, Santa explains what a Covid Christmas looks like. After steadily strengthening offshore to a Category 4 system, Debbie eventually made landfall near Airlie Beach, at 12:40 AEST on 28 March. Over 200 wells were flooded with ocean water, leaving families without safe water for drinking and basic hygiene. [38], Damage to Queensland's sugar industry is expected to cost A$150 million (US$114.5 million). Schools and hospitals had no electricity. Records show about 66 people were killed, while iconic images captured a city in ruins. Energex said the homes had been inundated by rising waters from the Albert and Logan Rivers and included suburbs such … Australia’s military sent vehicles, aircraft and supplies to the region, and clean-up efforts are beginning. Over 40,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and tragically, 14 people died. "We can't do very much about the event itself, but we can do something about what the consequences of that event might be.". Ex-tropical cyclone Debbie devastated North Queensland communities on Tuesday, leaving locals with damaged homes, businesses, and a billion-dollar damage bill. US parties wrangle after Trump shuns Covid bill, Man accused of Daniel Pearl murder to be freed. [18] The Royal Australian Air Force put transport aircraft on standby at Townsville, RAAF Base Amberley and RAAF Base Darwin. Bobby did not only destroy houses, but it ran right through the middle of a mining operation, largely adding to the cost of recovery. [1] Afterwards, Debbie rapidly weakened into a tropical low by late 28 March, but continued to travel south, causing significant damage and flooding in the populous areas of South East Queensland and Northern Rivers. ... devastation caused by Cyclone Debbie. [8] The BOM followed suit soon thereafter, classifying the system as a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian cyclone intensity scale at 00:00 UTC on 25 March. "With climate change we are seeing increased ferocity and frequency of these sorts of events. [27] Attempts were made to evacuate residents from the island; however, ships were unable to dock as the jetty was destroyed. [23] Damage was reported on the Whitsunday Islands, as strong winds lifted some roofs from houses; on Hamilton Island, sustained winds reached 191 km/h (119 mph) with gusts up to 263 km/h (163 mph) around 10:28 a.m. local time on 28 March. [1] After a day-long period of arrested development, environmental conditions became highly favourable for renewed intensification. Hundreds of properties were destroyed in Tuesday’s huge storm. "The challenge with major natural hazards and disasters is that people remember them in the immediate aftermath of an event and as time goes on they tend to forget sometimes what it was like.". Cyclone Marcia intensified from a category 2 to a category 5 just before crossing the Queensland coast north of Rockhampton in February 2015. Each year, Australia experiences natural disasters including storms, bushfires, floods, landslides and minor earthquakes. Unlike other tropical weather events, Debbie wreaked havoc beyond gale-force winds. "Underestimating the force of nature is the biggest mistake most people make," he explained. [1], Major storm surge was seen as one of the most dangerous factors associated with the approaching cyclone. At least one house was destroyed. [21] Former Deputy Leader of Australian Greens, Adam Bandt, was criticised by the conservative government's Federal Energy Minister for suggesting that construction of new coal plants would cause climate change, and hence increase the intensity of extreme weather events like Cyclone Debbie. "Individuals need to be prepared for and expect there will be periods of time where they will need to support themselves," he told the BBC. The cyclone's peak intensity of 902 hPa (26.64 inHg) with wind gusts of up to 285 kilometres per hour (177 mph) was estimated following Dvorak analysis of satellite imagery. Read about our approach to external linking. [28] Approximately 300 people, primarily tourists, on Daydream Island were left stranded and in dire need of supplies. Twenty houses in Onslow suffered superficial roof damage as well as some pastoral stations during Cyclone Bobby. Nelson Raebel went missing in Eagleby on Friday. "One of the most important things is to be able to help to calm people very early on in the process," he said. Bob Cooper, an outback survival instructor based near Perth, recommends meticulous preparation for residents staring at potential disaster. Pre-empting dangerous coastal erosion, conservation volunteers worked hard to relocate the nests of loggerhead turtles higher … Through flying debris unleashed by violent winds that wrecked homes and businesses, communities around the Whitsunday holiday region felt the full force of what was labelled a "monster" cyclone. [11] Residents in low-lying areas across Bowen, Proserpine and Airlie Beach were ordered to evacuate their homes. [24][25] Winds in excess of 100 km/h (62 mph) battered the island for more than 24 hours. The types of reactions that a person might experience after a natural disaster can include confusion and disorientation; strong feelings of fear, sadness, guilt and anger; difficulty sleeping or concentrating; and being troubled by distressing thoughts and images. [27], Debbie was the only name from the 2016-2017 season to be retired by the Bureau of Meteorology, It was replaced by Dara in mid-2018. As Cat 4 Tropical Cyclone Debbie loses intensity and tracks south towards Brisbane, the Gold Coast and northern NSW, residents and visitors to the Whitsundays Islands, Airlie Beach, Mackay and other affected areas of northern Queensland are emerging from their homes to view the devastation. North Queensland Bulk Ports closed the ports at Mackay, Abbot Point and Hay Point. [47] In total, Debbie killed six people in New South Wales. THREE men remain missing across Queensland after Cyclone Debbie and its aftermath swept through the state. 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