Cyclone Narelle Leaves Significant Impact on Cape York Peninsula
Cyclone Narelle has left a massive clean-up operation in its wake, with around 1000 homes still without power and an unidentified vessel stranded in the Cape York Peninsula. The storm made landfall as a dangerous category 4 system at approximately 7am on Friday, bringing wind gusts exceeding 250km/h and rainfall totals of up to 217 millimetres in some areas.
Residents were forced to take shelter as the powerful storm hit, leading to widespread power outages and flooding across the region. Premier David Crisafulli expressed relief that the storm did not directly impact towns along 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 flooding situations. Jake Ellwood, chief executive of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, highlighted 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.
Crisafulli noted that the damage so far appears to be minor structural issues and some significant road damage. Emergency services helicopters are conducting damage assessments across 16 communities on Saturday.
- Some trees have fallen, and there are ongoing power and telecommunications issues, but based on the size of the system, the situation could have been much worse, according to Crisafulli.
Authorities are particularly 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 resolve today.”
At 9:30am on Saturday, almost 1500 regional homes were without power, including those in Aurukun, Coen, Lockhart River, and Napranum. This number dropped to 1100 homes by 11am. Ergon Energy crews have restored power to Hopevale, Cooktown, Rossville, and Wujal Wujal.
Restoring power depends on safe access, weather conditions, and damage assessments, which will be conducted when crews arrive on-site, according to an Ergon spokesperson.
- Approximately 50 crew members are heading to remote sites by aircraft, equipped with the necessary tools for emergency network repairs.
- Multiple reports of fallen powerlines have been received, so the most important community safety message is: Fallen powerlines can be hidden in tree branches and other cyclone debris. Take extra care when cleaning up, stay well away from any fallen powerlines, and report them to emergency services.
- Making sites safe for the communities and everyone supporting them in the clean-up and recovery phase will be the first priority for our crews before they commence restoration work.
Lessons from the Storm
Crisafulli acknowledged that the government must learn from each disaster, especially after being questioned about Coen lacking a cyclone shelter for residents. During the storm, residents had to seek 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. He emphasized the need to examine structures and flood mitigation measures.
“It’s been a long time in this state since we built levees and detention basins,” he said. “I want to build more of them.”
- Places like Roma, where a levy has saved the community multiple times in recent years, demonstrate the value of investing in disaster resilience.
- Crisafulli stressed that there is always room for improvement in disaster preparedness.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
As the cleanup continues, authorities remain focused on ensuring the safety of residents and restoring essential services. The focus is on making affected areas safe for both the communities and those assisting in the recovery process.
The experience from Cyclone Narelle highlights the importance of preparedness, resilience, and continuous learning from natural disasters. With ongoing efforts to restore power and address flood risks, the region is working towards recovery and long-term improvements in disaster management.
