Hunkering down for Tropical Cyclone Yasi (TCYasi)

[Rae~]

Cars & jerrycans are full, water is stored, last minute stuff like waterproof matches & batteries etc are bought, sandbagging is done.

I grew up here in Far North Queensland so I'm fairly used to cyclones but this could well be a very, very big one.

http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/

Current tracking map:
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml
http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html

Tomorrow will be another busy day.

Any other members affected?

 

[monarch64]

I'm in the U.S. but heard about the possibility/probability of cyclones in Australia while watching the weather channel here today. Wishing all of my Aussie friends safety and security...here's hoping that you make it through whatever weather happens.

 

[susimoo]

Good luck Rae and all our other PS Australian pals! Sending PS dust and positive thoughts your way!

 

[Dandi]

We live in Victoria but are awaiting updates from family in QLD... GOOD LUCK Rae, we're thinking of you all! Stay safe!! xx

 

[diamondringlover]

Stay safe everyone...seems like we are having crazy weather everywhere

 

[Lovinggems]

Hope everyone stays safe, I'm especially worry about those that choose to stay in their houses.

'IF you're struggling to grasp the magnitude of Tropical Cyclone Yasi, consider this: it is so large it would almost cover the United States, most of Asia and large parts of and large parts of Europe... '

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-new...around-the-world/story-fn7ik2te-1225998762870

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Here is the latest satellite image. That thing is huge!

http://www.bom.gov.au/gms/IDE00035.201102020830.jpg

Good luck to everyone in North Queensland, you will all be in my thoughts and prayers as it crosses the coast this evening.

 

[Lovinggems]

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html

This is when I don't like using my iPad because links like this one don't work.

 

[JewelFreak]

Wishing for a safe outcome for all of you folks there. Sounds like this is a huge one; keep yourselves & your animals safe. I can't believe the horrid stuff Australia is going through lately. Let us know if there's anything we can do from the States. Will think of you till it's all over & you're okay.

--- Laurie

 

[movie zombie]

stay safe!

MoZo

 

[Rae~]

I know this is old news now but I dislike threads left hanging so I'm just adding an update for closure.

All went "well" here - at the last minute (ie about 8-10 hours before landfall) the cyclone took a slightly more southern path and ended up crossing the coast a fair way south of us, in a much less populated area. Sadly, some of the smaller communities in its path suffered a great deal of damage, to both property and crops. So I feel bad saying "it worked out well for us" when so people are still suffering.

It was still a sleepless night for us; we had evacuated where we are living now (rental in a lower-lying area) as there were predictions of a huge storm surge at that time, and camped out at my parents' house, with a bunker nearby if things got hairy enough. Even though it was a Category 5 when it crossed the coast, we really only had a mid-level blow here - probably no more than Category 3 winds, perhaps even slightly lower.. but we just weren't sure all night whether it would start to pick up. The cyclone slowed down in the last few hours, which meant it crossed the coast closer to low tide, not high tide as originally predicted... hence the storm surge wasn't anywhere near as high as initially feared, thankfully. We were very glad our sandbagging efforts went untested!!

We were without power for a few days and so we camped out in a half-built house (with the permission of the owners, of course!) for a few nights as it's still very much summer here and without ceiling fans or aircon, our house is sweltering (not designed well for natural airflow). We worked our butts off for about 5 days afterwards, cutting up and clearing up the trees, branches etc that were strewn all over yards. The lack of hot water didn't even matter because cold showers at the end of the day were exactly what we wanted!

Thank you for all the PS dust at the time.

 

[Dandi]

Oh Rae, it's so good to hear from you!! Sorry to hear you're roughing it hon, but I'm so thankfull that you're safe!! I watched the couple interviewed on 60 Minutes last night who lost their precious, tiny daughter to the floods... it's just... too sad for words.

So glad you're OK. Big big big hugs.