Tropical Cyclone Monica Update 3
The Minister for Emergency Services, Pat Purcell, has today praised the response to Tropical Cyclone Monica - which has now passed over the Queensland mainland.
The latest advice from the Bureau of Meteorology is that the cyclone is now situated in the Gulf of Carpentaria; and that warning for the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula has been cancelled.
However, the cyclone could intensify as it tracks towards the Northern Territory.
The cyclone passed over the western coast of the cape yesterday as a category 2 system.
Mr Purcell said that no injuries or significant damage was reported.
There were also no reports of injuries from the cyclone crossing the eastern coast of the cape as a category 3 on Wednesday.
Mr Purcell yesterday visited Lockhart River, a town only 30 kilometres from where the eye of the cyclone passed.
“The communities and residents there are coping well, and local councils have the situation well in hand,” Mr Purcell said.
“I was impressed with the preparedness and spirit of the people of the Cape York Peninsula.
“These are resilient people, who are familiar in dealing with cyclones.”
Latest information includes:
* Mains power was restored in LockhartRiver yesterday afternoon, and power has been restored to the 50 homes in Coen on feeder lines.
* The landline telephone network to the cape has also been restored.
* Numerous roads are blocked, however the Department of Emergency Services has logistical plans in place to re-supply any areas cut off.
* The rescue helicopter yesterday evacuated several people from Laura, where flood waters were at calf height. They were taken to Cooktown.
* The Department of Emergency Services will continue to check on and re-supply outlying communities and isolated homesteads.
* The heavy rain that Monica brought has caused some localised flooding in Cairns. Contingency plans are being developed should evacuations be necessary - though fortunately the rain did ease overnight.
* Flooding is also a possibility in the western cape region, and this is being monitored.
“Queensland’s emergency management system is, once again, responding magnificently to a potentially deadly natural disaster,” Mr Purcell said.
