Friday, March 31, 2017

Flooding Prompts Rescues, Evacuations in Australia as Ex-Cyclone Debbie Moves South

March 30,2017
Evacuations orders were issued, schools were shut down and businesses were asked to close by noon in New South Wales and Queensland on Thursday as the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Debbie moved south.
According to the Australia Broadcasting Corporation, flooding has forced residents in the NSW towns of Lismore and Murwillumbah to evacuate as inundated rivers continue to rise.
"Do not delay your evacuation. Roads will be congested or closed. You could become trapped and need rescue," a South Australian State Emergency Service warning said, calling the flooding "unprecedented."
Emergency crews have conducted at least 45 rescues around the Lismore area, the ABC reported.
Evacuation orders were also issued for residents of Chinderah, Tweed Heads South, Kingsliff, Fingal Head and Bilambil, in New South Wales.
In Queensland, more that 50 swift-water rescues were performed Thursday, the ABC reports, while schools in southeast Queensland were closed Thursday. They will remain closed on Friday, officials say.
Debbie's area of low pressure will push offshore by early Friday, local time, ending the heavy rain threat, says weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. Major river flooding will persist in some areas, however.
Officials in Mackay, Queensland issued evacuation orders ahead of the storm's arrival, the Courier-Mail reports. Police Commissioner Ian Stewart says there was a sudden increase in calls for service due to significant rainfall.
Wednesday, a day after powerful Cyclone Debbie slammed into the region, Australia's military sent vehicles, aircraft and supplies to the Queensland coast to help with cleanup efforts. The first round of the massive storm tossed boats like toys, left thousands stranded and killed at least one person.
"Nature has flung her worst at the people of north Queensland," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters. "It is now our job to make sure that every agency pulls together ... to provide support to the people of north Queensland who have had a very tough day and night."
The storm slammed into Australia's coast near Airline Beach Tuesday local time (late Monday night EDT) as a Cat. 4 equivalent storm, according to weather.com meteorologist Jon Erdman. Some 61,000 homes and businesses lost power as Debbie moved ashore, the AP reported.
The one death was confirmed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, according to BBC.com, and another man was injured after a wall collapsed in Proserpine, according to the AP.
The ABC reports that the city of Mackay remains in the dark and only has enough clean water for one day, while flooding threatens thousands along the upper Connors River.
Flash flooding cut off the Bruce Highway, which is the main arterial road, near Bowen Tuesday, ABC reports. Roads to Airlie Beach and Prosperine were also blocked off due to damage from the storm.
Two men were rescued Tuesday after becoming stranded when their vessel ran aground near Airlie Beach on Whitsunday Island, according to the Queensland Police Service. A police crew on a water vessel spotted them and safely transported the uninjured men to Shute Harbour. In the meantime, around 30 boats were tossed onto rocks by the storm at the port of Shute Harbour, Whitsunday's Regional Council Mayor Andrew Willcox told reporters.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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