Cyclone Debbie: Queensland cleans up as storm moves inland

We're closing off today's live coverage of the Queensland mopping up after the destructive Cyclone Debbie.

The key developments are:

• Police have discovered two cars submerged in floodwaters and are searching for owners
• The category four storm pummeled North Queensland communities, particularly The Whitsundays, Airlie Beach, Bowen, and Proserpine
• The strongest recorded wind gust was 263km/h on Hamilton Island
• Holidaymakers on Hamilton Island have revealed the scale of the destruction
• Authorities are yet to evacuate people from the cyclone-ravaged tropical islands, with Daydream forced to ration water to one bottle a day.
• About 1200 Defence personnel have joined the recovery effort, including helping with evacuations.
• Flood warnings have been issued for rivers down the coast
• Amid the destruction arrives new life – baby Billianna
• And a cheeky retort from a Bowen resident.
• The Premier and Police Commissioner have toured some of the worst-affected communities
• Queenslanders can expect wild weather for days
• Sydney weather warning in the wake of Cyclone Debbie
• Tomato and capsicum prices are expected to rise

​Visit the main site for the latest on ex-Cyclone Debbie's aftermath.

About 1200 Defence personnel have moved in to help North Queensland communities affected by Cyclone Debbie, Acting Chief of Joint Operations, Major General Stuart Smith says.

"Operating under Joint Task Force 661 (JTF 661), the Defence response will see our sailors, soldiers and airmen undertaking a wide variety of tasks in support of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and other disaster coordination authorities," Major General Smith says.

"These tasks will include: evacuation; aeromedical transport; search and rescue; assisting to restore critical infrastructure; road and route clearance; emergency food, water, fuel and shelter delivery and distribution; as well reconnaissance, surveillance and damage assessments."

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk arrives in Bowen.Credit: Brian Cassey

You may recall this Bowen resident with a message for Cyclone Debbie.

Reporter Rachel Clun caught up with him in the aftermath of the category four storm.

​"I just wanted to say, 'Hey listen, you didn't win this one," Graham Wilson said.

Graham Wilson paints a fresh message on his fence in the wake of Cyclone Debbie.Credit: Jorge Branco

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart surveys the damage caused in North Queensland by the monster storm.

Swollen rivers have cut-off access to Proserpine by road so far.

As communities clean-up in the wake of Cyclone Debbie, Bowen resident Joel Medil has donned a mask and vowed not to return to his home once it's cleared.

"Just now they told me about that one (asbestos in the roof) so I feel nervous about that because they said it will kill me," he said.

"Now I decided to leave, to remove all my things and pack up everything and bring it all to my friend's house."

The full story is here.

Bowen resident Joel Medil empties his cyclone-damaged home. Credit: Brian Cassey

Australians have been warned to expect the price of tomatos and capsicums to rise after Cyclone Debbie smashed the "food bowl of the north" around Bowen on the Queensland central coast, destroying winter crops.

The region provides about 95 per cent of Australia's winter supply of tomatoes and capsicums, which were due for picking in late May, according to Queensland Farmers Federation project manager Ross Henry. He said any crops in the ground would have been destroyed.

Full story is here

The rainfall, wind gusts, worst affected areas, and other data on Cyclone Debbie which crossed the Queensland coast yesterday.

The full list is here.

Fairfax journalist Melissa Coulter Ryan was on Hamilton Island when Cyclone Debbie.

Here is what she has captured and shared once phone services were restored.

Billyanna is the name of the little girl born early Wednesday morning in cyclone-ravaged Airlie Beach.

Mum Suzanne and dad Tim - struggling in an Airlie Beach house with no power and no lights - phoned for help to the Whitsunday Ambulance Station at midnight when Suzanne's contractions were two minutes apart.

Whitsunday paramedic Pamela Price said they decided against trying to take the heavily-pregnant Suzanne by boat over to Proserpine in the dark.

"My partner and I decided to take her to the Airlie Beach Ambulance Station at Cannonvale because we had a generator, lights and power," Ms Price said.

"So we took her there and two hours later we had a beautiful baby girl.

"Where we were they were cut off by flood water, no electricity and no power.

"So they realised it was quite a dangerous situation."

Queensland paramedic Pam with the baby girl. Credit: Twitter: QldAmbulance

Jon Clements was celebrating his mother's 70th birthday at Hamilton Island when the weather turned.

Mr Clements said most of his family got "little sleep" that night as the rain and wind became "pretty heavy".

"We woke up on Tuesday morning in the thick of it, there was pretty extensive damage, we could see boats being torn out of their mooring," he said.

"There are not particular areas of damage, the whole island is just smashed.

"I just can't believe the state the place is in, it is extraordinary, it is almost unrecognisable.

"It looks like a war-zone, it looks like some sort of bomb has gone off."

He said the water had been turned back on at the resort, where people were wandering around to see the damage Cyclone Debbie caused.

"There are a few people bouncing around... trying to get a hold of beer and not having much luck," he said.

Read the full story here