Cottage no match for storm’s fury

JULIANE Kasiske and Joel Wilson fled in terror during the quiet of the eye of the cyclone as their fibro cottage on the high ground overlooking Airlie Beach blew apart in the 200km/ h winds.

Juliane, 30, a land care co- ordinator with Reef Catchment and Joel, 31, a carpenter, spent the initial hours of the cyclone lying on their bed under mattresses, hoping the roof would hold. They could hear windows shattering and the sound of wood coming part.

“I could feel the pressure in my ears and hear the breaking glass. And we heard the walls breaking,” Ms Kasiske said.

They heard the front windows blow in and the glass shatter on the floor.

The wind was roaring through the house and then a 20m palm tree came down on the house.

“It was terrifying. The noise of the tree and then the sliding doors went and there was more noise. As soon as things slowed down a bit when the eye came over we said ‘ let’s get out of here’ and went to the neighbours,” Joel said.

Another pair who spent most of Tuesday night wondering if they were going to survive was Shute Harbour Motel owner Dave McInerinty and caretaker Dave Thompson.

The motel overlooking the usually beautiful harbour was a wreck.

“I was lying in bed in Room 9 and the glass door blew in,” he said. “It sent glass flying everywhere. One piece of glass went flying just past my head. As soon as that happened I raced for the toilet and went in there.”

Mr Thompson and Mr McInerinty emerged from their respective shelters as the eye passed over, but when Debbie returned they both sheltered in one of the motel bathrooms.