Cyclone Narelle Leaves Widespread Damage and Ongoing Concerns
Cyclone Narelle has left a significant impact on the Cape York Peninsula, with approximately 1000 homes still without power and an unidentified vessel stranded in Princess Charlotte Bay. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 system around 7:00 AM on Friday, bringing wind gusts exceeding 250 km/h and heavy rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 217 millimetres of rain.
Residents across the region were forced to take shelter as the storm hit, leading to widespread power outages and flooding. Despite the severity of the storm, Premier David Crisafulli described it as a blessing that the cyclone did not directly hit any towns in its path.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better deal out of this in the immediate term,” Crisafulli said from Cooktown on Saturday. “We’re asking people to be mindful that the flood watch still exists for a large part of north and far north Queensland.”
Swiftwater rescue crews are still on standby to assist with flood-related emergencies. Jake Ellwood, CEO of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, emphasized that the main concern now is the ongoing risk of flooding.
“History will tell us that a lot of people injure themselves by driving into flooded waters, and I would just implore you, if it’s flooded, just forget it,” Ellwood said.
So far, the damage from the storm appears to be relatively minor, with reports of structural damage and road issues. Emergency services choppers are conducting damage assessments across 16 communities on Saturday.
- Some trees have been downed, and there are ongoing power and telecommunications issues. However, based on the size of the system, Crisafulli noted that the situation could have been much worse.
Authorities are also concerned about an unidentified vessel that remains stranded in Princess Charlotte Bay. It is the only vessel that chose to stay in the area, while others sought shelter elsewhere. The number of people aboard is unknown.
“We’re most keen to find that vessel,” Crisafulli said. “Authorities haven’t been able to make contact with that vessel, so that is something we’re hoping to make today.”
Power Outages and Restoration Efforts
At 9:30 AM on Saturday, almost 1500 regional homes were without power, including those in Aurukun, Coen, Lockhart River, and Napranum. By 11:00 AM, this number had dropped to 1100 homes. Ergon Energy crews have successfully restored power to Hopevale, Cooktown, Rossville, and Wujal Wujal.
Restoring power depends on safe access, weather conditions, and damage assessments, which will be conducted once crews reach the affected areas. An Ergon spokesperson confirmed that approximately 50 crew members are heading to remote sites by aircraft, equipped with the necessary tools for emergency network repairs.
- The company has received multiple reports of fallen powerlines, which can be hidden in tree branches and other cyclone debris. They urged residents to exercise caution when cleaning up and to avoid any fallen powerlines, reporting them to emergency services immediately.
Making sites safe for communities and those supporting the clean-up and recovery efforts will be the top priority for crews before starting restoration work.
Lessons from the Disaster
Crisafulli acknowledged that the government must learn from each disaster, especially after concerns were raised about Coen not having a cyclone shelter for residents. During the storm, residents took shelter in the town’s hotel and a wellness centre, which became overcrowded.
“We should always look at ways we can strengthen our resilience towards a disaster event,” Crisafulli said. “Structures should be examined, and flood mitigation measures should be reviewed.”
He highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure such as levees and detention basins, which have proven effective in communities like Roma.
“It’s been a long time in this state since we built levees and detention basins,” Crisafulli said. “I want to build more of them.”
He emphasized that investing in disaster resilience makes sense, as demonstrated by the success of existing infrastructure in protecting communities.
“We should always look to do better. There’s no doubt about that.”
