NORA GOES WILD
Cyclone goes through Cape communities and gives FNQ a big soaking
CAPE York towns will today assess the damage after Cyclone Nora hit at the weekend.
Early indications suggest western Cape communities came through the Category 3 cyclone with no casualties, but hundreds of homes lost power.
The deluge unleashed by Nora brought wet and wild conditions to Saturday’s AFL clash and caused flash flooding across the city, with more rain to come.
CYCLONE Nora has left communities in western Cape York bruised, but not broken.
No one was reported seriously hurt after the Category 3 storm crossed the coast north of Pormpuraaw at 11.25pm on Saturday.
While Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama and Aurukun felt the brunt of the storm, Emergency Services and Fire Minister Craig Crawford said the communities were faring well.
“Our crews have completed approximately 90 assessments for damage so far today and will continue to conduct these to gain a full understanding of the situation and what we can do to assist with recovery,” he said. “So far, damage to buildings has been mostly minor.”
About 260 residents lost electricity due to fallen powerlines, a majority living in Pormpuraaw, about 670km northwest of Cairns.
An Ergon Energy spokeswoman said multiple aircraft, including two heavy-lift helicopters, were yesterday on standby to transport equipment and crews to the community as soon as the weather cleared, and it was safe to fly and land.
“Our crews are ready to hit the ground running and will work as quickly and safely as they can to restore power,” she said.
McDermott Aviation pilot Hamish Robertson said the Bell 214B heavy-lift helicopters could lift up to three tonnes and are working alongside Ergon Energy to deploy generators and fuel if required.
Barbara Camp, a guesthouse supervisor at Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council, described the cyclone as scary as it blew through the town late Saturday night.
“The noise of the wind is the worst,” she said.
“I’ve often heard it said to sound like a train, and it did just that last night.
“With it happening so late at night, I think it made it worse.”
She said the communication tower had fallen across the roof of the council office, and the building’s carport had been pushed over.
“I’ve been told a couple of houses were damaged, but nobody hurt, thank God,” she said.
Liam Hartley and his colleagues filmed the corrugated iron shed in the yard of the Pormpuraaw home where they were sheltering, being torn to pieces by the cyclone’s fury.
The Mareeba-based contractor said when the storm passed, most of the damage in the town appeared to be uprooted vegetation.
He said the storm did not appear to be as powerful as Cyclone Larry, which made landfall in northern Queensland in March 2006, or Cyclone Yasi which ravaged the region in February 2011.
“It was a bit different because it just came straight over the top of us,” he said. “She was a bit strong.”
He said he and his colleagues would remain in the community this week to assist with the clean-up effort.
Kowanyama River House owner Thomas Hudson said only a few trees were felled by near his guesthouse.
“It came over us about 4am and it was quite frightening, but it didn’t last very long,” he said.
“There’s no damage to the accommodation, or flooding – even though it was a good wind, we got off pretty lightly, and we had power all the way through.
“I think most people were well prepared for it.”