TC CYLONE ALFRED

At the moment Cyclone Alfred is tracking towards north of Brisbane. Often cyclones gather more momentum as they hover close to the land. They also can suddenly change directions!!!

Be prepared for anything. Check the last post for preparation then

* Fill up buckets of water to flush toilet and to wash in.

* Cook up food for a couple of days. 

* Bring inside any possibly useful tarps, tape, etc.

* Recheck everything that needs to be charged up.

* Check on neighbours/friends.

* Keep your valuables bag ( including house and car keys, medicines and medical history, phone charger) in a safe place near you

* Have extra towels on hand

* Keep up to date with news etc. 

* Make sure children feel safe. Bring the child`s special soft comforter/`uggie` blanket/ teddy bear with him/her.  Pack of cards or a board game may come in handy. Sing some songs? Something to nibble sometimes helps to stay a little calm.

* Look after pets bring inside the home - with you

* Keep your phone on you. Make sure you have emergency numbers, eg. SES, on your phone!

See ZOOM EARTH (a free phone app and website). It is now time-tracking weather (Cyclones etc.). Click on your location so you can see how far away etc it is. 

IF THE CYCLONE LOOKS LIKE IT WILL HIT THE SUNSHINE COAST and

If cyclonic weather is starting to really ramp up and your home is old, or very small, and you plan to stay put 

* Make sure your neighbours know you are staying

* Put some thick long jeans on, and at least a  couple of T shirts on. Top up with a long sleeved tightly woven shirt. Put boots on. Have some work or gardening gloves handy.

* Prepare where you will sit/ sleep. Make it comfortable. Leave your clothes on. Have drinking water with you, a torch and phone. 

* Have 1st Aid kit also with you and RESCUE REMEDY on hand (homeopathic balancer for acute stress - take under the tongue or suck a lozenger).

* Children can put earplugs in to decrease the sound of the wind. It is not pleasant.

STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. These can blow out or be impacted with flying debris.

The safest place to ride out a cyclone is in the smallest room in the house or under stairs.

If you have to sit out the cyclone where there is a window then cover it with a mattress. 

* When the eye of the cyclone passes all is calm. DO NOT GO OUTSIDE. This is only the eye (half way mark). The wind can VERY SUDDENLY hit once again. In past cyclones those who ventured outside thinking as no wind `it is all safe` experienced terrible consequences. 

Stay safe. Use this small break in the wind to breathe deeply. Pee, take medicine, calm the dog etc. Get up and stretch your legs etc. 

The eye of the cyclone time-wise depends on the speed that the actual cyclone is moving and this can change. Take this small window of silence to re calibrate situation and calm self and family. 

 many hands make light work - Conondale Community Matters - share, care, tread softly

CYCLONE ALFRED

BE PREPARED FOR NASTY WINDS AND FLOODING, POWER OUTAGES AND ROAD CLOSURES

TC Alfred looks like it will cross onto the mainland as a Cat 1 or 2 or a huge rain only event. Maybe hit the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Even though we are on the other side of the Range we maybe impacted. 

SO

*Make sure you have at least a week`s supply of medicine, drinking water and food. Food that is easily cooked on a gas burner or doesn`t need to be cooked. Cook a few things and put in fridge before the cyclone hits. Check if enough food for any pets. 

* Put everything lying around the garden away  (bicycles, outside chairs & tables. garden tools, pot plants, lawn mower, wheel barrow etc.) or if this is not possible lie them down close to a wall. Tables upside down.

Tie down trampolines as they are easily picked up by the wind.

* Fill up car with petrol,  and make petrol running generator has fuel and that you have extra fuel for topping up. Fill up drinking water bottles

* Charge all batteries and phones, internet devices.

* Check torches, solar lights - charge up whilst the sun is shining.

* Put your valuables and licence/passport, insurance papers etc in a waterproof bag/backpack. Make sure you have an emergency phone number and the name of the person and if they are family. Keep with you if cyclone hits. Change of clothes and medicine in bag in case you need to stay somewhere else. 

* Check with neighbours to see if they are prepared and /or need any help. If in a low lying area prone to flooding make sure you ask where they will be staying etc. If in a flood prone area, or a very old home, find a neighbour who is willing to let you stay with them.

* Communicate to your family your own plans.

Keep informed with Sunshine Coast Disaster Hub and Cyclone Watch news via TV, Radio, SES Facebook and other local social media outlets.

It is now looking like Alfred will cross onto land south of us. Maybe Caboolture, Brisbane or the Gold Coast? If this happens the deluge will happen South of Alfred - in Brisbane, Gold Coast or NSW. By tomorrow the forecasters will have a clearer picture of the Cyclone`s path.

If it still is a possibility of affecting us,  there will be another post, tomorrow afternoon, sharing what we need to do to keep safe.

many hands make light work - Conondale community matters - share, care, tread softly