Queensland Prepares for Worst, Most Dangerous Storm to Date

Queensland residents have been told it is now too late to escape as the most dangerous storm ever predicted to hit the state makes its approach. Cyclone Yasi, a category five storm, will make landfall on Wednesday night. State Premier Anna Bligh said those in coastal areas expected to flood should have left their homes already. The state disaster co-ordinator warned residents they would be on their own for up to 24 hours when Yasi strikes. "The time for movement and evacuation has now passed," Mrs Bligh said, adding that Yasi would be "the most catastrophic storm to ever hit our coast".  "People should be sheltering wherever they are."
 Bligh said she did not think Australia had ever seen a storm of this intensity in an area as thickly populated. She predicted it would be a very frightening time, with 24 hours of terrifying winds, torrential rains, and the likely loss of electricity and mobile phones. Storm surges are expected to cause widespread flooding and wind gusts are likely to rip off roofs and cause significant structural damage.

Meteorologists have upgraded Cyclone Yasi to a category five storm, the most severe level. With winds of almost 300km/h (185mph), they are warning it poses an extremely serious threat to life and property, especially around the cities of Cairns and Townsville. People in low-lying areas especially are being urged to evacuate. The eye of the storm alone was reported to be 35km in width, with a front stretching across 650km. "This impact is likely to be more life-threatening than any experienced during recent generations," they warned.

More than 10,000 people have already gathered in evacuation centres, and there were reports that those who had not already secured a place were being turned away. Those remaining in their homes were told to tape up windows, fill sandbags and prepare a "safe room" with mattresses, pillows, a radio, food and water supplies to wait out the cyclone. They were also encouraged to fill their bathtubs with water for drinking supplies.
State Disaster Co-ordinator Ian Stewart said it would be more dangerous for people to panic and leave their properties than to stay put once the storm strikes."[People] should be preparing themselves for the fact that the roofs of their houses may lift off but that does not make the structure of the house any less sound," he said. Earlier, police had walked through the streets of Cairns and the northern capital of Townsville, urging people to leave the cities if they could.
Residents frantically bought up supplies to last through what they have been told will be a storm of unprecedented ferocity. Along the coast residents were warned that a storm surge between two and seven metres was likely to cause widespread flooding, in cities and towns still recovering from intense rains just a few weeks ago. "We have a mild sense of panic. The worst thing is the waiting," government worker Iony Woolaghan told Agence France Presse from Townsville, where some 10,000 homes are reported to be at risk of flooding.

More than 400,000 people live in the cyclone's expected path. The area, which includes the Great Barrier Reef, is also popular with tourists.