Millions urged to prepare for Cyclone Alfred

Millions of residents in Queensland and Northern New South Wales have been urged to prepare for a historic storm, as tropical Cyclone Alfred is just days away from approaching land. 

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross anywhere from Bundaberg in Queensland and northern NSW on Thursday as a category two system, bringing up to 600 millimetres of rain per day.

Authorities urged residents to stay vigilant and pay attention to warnings, while also urging locals to have a stash of food ready and to prepare their homes as best they can. 

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said residents should do “everything they can” including having tinned food, making an emergency kit, gathering up passports and clearing debris from properties.

The state government has requested telecommunication companies to increase network capacity to cope with an expected jump in internet usage and millions of messages throughout the emergency.

Many homes in southeast Queensland are not built to withstand cyclones, with Mr Crisafulli urging residents to listen to warnings from authorities.

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“This part of the state has had its fair share of flooding challenges and has responded well, and I genuinely believe that people will heed warnings and will do the right thing,” he said.

SES NSW urged residents to prepare for damaging winds, large surf and heavy rainfall with major riverine and flash flooding expected from Wednesday.

“We are asking the community to take steps now to ensure that if you are asked to evacuate you have a plan for yourselves, your families and your pets and know where you will go,” NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey said.

The cyclone is hundreds of kilometres off Rockhampton and is expected to travel southeast until Tuesday, when it will swing west and make its way towards land. 

Image credits: Sunrise