Islands feel full impact
TOURISTS and residents on Hamilton and Hayman Islands were among the first to feel the wrath of Cyclone Debbie with gales ripping away at rooftops and trees.
The popular destinations were two of the first locations to feel the full impact of the Category 4 system.
Chris Eagle’s family holiday took a dramatic turn when he had to move his wife and two children out of their Hamilton Island holiday rental home as its roof began to blow away.
“At least half the roof in our place was gone,” he said.
“We were packing up and getting everyone ready to go when a gust of wind came and picked up the ceiling, we managed to get out of there pretty quickly and into an apartment below.
“At the moment it’s a battle to walk anywhere on the island there are trees knocked down everywhere and the winds still haven’t properly died off.”
Mr Eagle said winds first picked up on the island about 1am yesterday.
“We could hear the winds really picking up and from the first time I went out in the daylight it just got worse and worse,” he said. “At about midday it died right off but I wouldn’t say it was the eye of the cyclone because it was still pretty gusty.
“I knew I had to stay calm and make sure my family understood what we had to do as the situation went on.”
Mr Eagle said other tourists now faced a long wait figuring out how to get off the island.
“It all depends on what happens with emergency services but it would be great if we could get to the mainland and to an airport to get home if possible,” he said.
About 10.30am yesterday Hamilton Island Airport recorded a wind gust of 262km/ h, not far from the 280km/ h benchmark for a Category 5 cyclone.
On Hayman Island gusts kicked up large amount of sand and branches but little damage was reported.
One & Only Hayman Island general manager Scott Williams said all guests and staff were “safe and well”.
All guests were accounted for on nearby Daydream Island with management reporting significant damage to the resort’s jetty, the roof of its spa and two of its three signature mermaid statues which were swept away.