Too late to leave: Cairns residents told to bunker down – 12-meter waves expected to hit north Queensland coast
Staff reporters with AAP
February 2, 2011 Evacuation centres in Cairns are rapidly filling as residents are told it is too late to flee the city ahead of Cyclone Yasi’s arrival. With wind speeds of 295km/h recorded, storm surges of up to 7 metres have been predicted to hit Cardwell, between Townsville and Cairns, as the cyclone’s expected arrival at midnight combines with a high tide. Regional Traffic Co-ordinator Inspector Robert Waters has told motorists their window to leave Cairns had effectively closed. Police have urged “frantic” motorists trying to escape Cairns to remain calm. “Heading south on the highway to outrun the cyclone, it is probably too late for that now,” Inspector Waters said. “Basically if you haven’t already left Cairns, if you haven’t worked out a specific destination within a reasonable driving distance, you have probably left it too late and we suggest you go to the shelters that are advertised by the councils.” He said officers had reported seeing fleeing families driving too fast and without care on the roads. State disaster co-ordinator Ian Stewart said Cardwell could experience a storm surge of 6.5 to 7 metres above the normal high tide, and lives were at stake. As a result, waves as high as 12m are predicted to hit the north Queensland coast putting tens of thousands of oceanfront and low-lying homes in Cairns and Townsville at risk of inundation. … “Pretty much we’re saying if people haven’t gone to a centre by now they should be staying indoors,” a police spokeswoman said just after 11am local time. … Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said some people were refusing to leave low-lying areas, despite the “extremely serious and life-threatening” threat of a storm surge. “There are some unfortunately [who aren’t heeding requests to leave] but thankfully the vast majority of people are co-operating,” he told Sky News. “The window of opportunity to move out of these areas is closing very, very quickly. We do need people if they are still there to get out now.” …
