Cyclone Jasper flooding: Mossman residents reveal early morning wake-up call

Residents of Mossman have been forced out of their home in a shock middle-of-the-night wake-up call in a flooding threat caused by Cyclone Jasper.

While families on Mossman St sheltered inside their homes listening to the howling winds delivered by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, they had no clue of the bigger danger silently creeping up.

The torrential rain had caused the Mossman River to burst its banks and begin flowing toward homes in the rural sugar district.

Mayarna Donahue, 14, was in bed listening to the bamboo trees breaking in the wind in her backyard when she saw the flashing emergency lights outside her window, alerting her to the rising floodwaters coming up below the highset house.

Mayarna, her three little siblings, a cousin and their grandmother were some of the 18 people evacuated from their homes on Mossman St just after midnight on Thursday.

“It would have been around two in the morning when the SES and fire brigade came,” she said

“We didn’t realise the back yard was flooding until we saw flashing lights outside.”

Mayarna Donahue was rescued from the Mossman St flood at 2:30am. Picture: Liam Kidston

The family managed to get out of the property on foot.

“It was just low enough for us to walk,” she said.

“It was quite scary. It was the second time being in a cyclone for me. Even though it wasn’t a Category 3 or 4, it still did a lot of damage to our street. We have two bamboo trees in the back yard and all night they kept on breaking.”

The family went to the makeshift evacuation centre at the Mossman Library to wait until the water receded.

By high tide on Thursday, the floodwater was around the third step from the bottom of the house which was spared from damage inside.

“Our car is under water though,” Mayarna said.

A police spokesman said emergency crews were called to the street to help evacuate eight people, including five children and a dog from the second story of one home.

Harry Cobb’s father’s home at Mossman surrounded by floodwaters. Picture: Liam Kidston

Four more people were evacuated from a second home, and Mayarna and her family from another.

They said a further 40 people on the street sheltered in place.

“One home was inundated with approximately one metre of flood water, and multiple vehicles received water damage,” the spokesman said.

“No one was physically injured, and no persons have been reported as missing.

“Police are continuing their recovery efforts in the Mossman area, and across Far North Queensland.”

Across town on Thursday, Harry Cobb was nervously watching the water approach his father Jack’s Ingles St home where he has lived for 31 years.

“The water has gotten inside before but we’re hoping it won’t get that far this time,” Mr Cobb said.

Jack Cobb’s house surrounded by floodwaters in Ingles St, Mossman. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Dad is staying with us. I helped him move on Monday, we got out all his clothes and the fridge and TV and washing machine because he thought this would be a big one.

“He’s feeling a bit sad but he’s okay. It is just a waiting game now.”

Mr Cobb said he experienced a few cyclones and said he was glad to see the back of Jasper.

“It was bloody windy, really windy actually,” he said.

“It wasn’t as bad as some I’ve been in because it didn’t have the lightning or thunder.

“But it has done damage to a lot of places.”

Another neighbour said he’d lived in his house for 20 years and the water was the highest he’d ever seen.

“Thank God it stopped and started to subside,” he said.

“It’s on its way back out now so happy days.

“I haven’t seen any crocs yet but I’m keeping my eye out, they’ll be there.”