MOTEL BOSS LEFT ON EDGE
in production three to four months earlier than if you let the trees be blown down. But, at the same time, if you cut them down and you don’t get a cyclone you are going to still be behind. It’s a gamble whatever you do.”
Mr Singh lost his entire crop in Cyclone Yasi. It was a production loss of $ 2 million and then there was the infrastructure damage as well, he said.
“We’ll do what we can now and then see what happens,” he said.
Rodger Bow, the Local Controller at the State Emergency Service, Ingham, said all preparations were being made.
“We are now at Lean Forward which is the first phase of our disaster preparations,” he said.
He said sand bags had been sent to Halifax and more were being sent to Ingham.
Mr Bow said he would prefer that the cyclone came in quickly if it did form rather than spend a long time circling out at sea, building in intensity before it made landfall.
“The weaker it is when it crosses, the better,” he said.
Local Controller at the Cardwell SES Peter Ottone said sand and bags were available and that people could “come and help themselves”. He said heavy rain yesterday meant creeks were already running and that the ground water table was high.
“We just say ‘ be prepared’. With the water table so high there could be flash flooding in some areas if there is a lot more rain,” he said.
Mr Steinberg said that if the hotter than normal water temperatures continued, the North could expect more cyclones going into April. A CARDWELL beachfront motel owner said there was no panic over a potential cyclone, but that the community was wary.
“It’s a bit of a wait- and- see situation,” Janet Arnold said. She and husband Steve own the Cardwell Beachfront Motel.
“We had a huge shower of rain ( yesterday) … that puts people a little on edge,” she said. “The town has gone through a lot of recovery and this is just another little reminder of what can happen.”
There was a 50 per cent chance the low- pressure system could become Cyclone Debbie and cross on Sunday.
“We’ve got guests booked in, we’re not sure whether they’re going to come. We’re expecting cancellations,” Mrs Arnold said, adding that she was more concerned about any possible storm surges. “We’re in a very vulnerable position, we’re as close as you can get to the beach.”
Cassowary Coast Councillor Glenn Raleigh, whose division includes south of Innisfail to Cardwell, said it was just “watch and wait” at the moment.
“We’re expecting the Cassowary Coast will be impacted,” he said. “People in this part of the world have dealt with cyclones for many years.”
He said the tight- knit community had started preparing and emergency services were on standby.
“We’re always prepared for a cyclone season. People understand what needs to be done.
“The real impacts on infrastructure and people’s lives come afterwards. It’s really important that everyone’s aware of that.”