Cyclone Queensland: Everything you need to know before Cyclone Debbie hits

CYCLONE Debbie is forecast to make landfall on Tuesday. From local school closures and evacuation maps to transport and energy changes, this is what you need to know.

• What to do when Cyclone Debbie hits
• Queensland cyclone: Cyclone Debbie, one dead in wild weather
• Cyclone Debbie could wipe out parts of Bowen

CYCLONE Debbie is forecast to make landfall about 10am on Tuesday. From local school closures to transport and energy changes, this is what you need to know.

EVACUATIONS: Residents warned to get out now

SUPPORT: ADF sent in to tropical cyclone zone

The tracking map from BoM issued at 2pm.

Sign up to Courier-Mail email news alerts here

Evacuation maps

The state government has released maps of the areas expected to be affected by a storm surge associated with cyclone Debbie.

DOWNLOAD THE MAPS HERE

Education

By 10pm Monday 118 schools had been closed in preparation for Cyclone Debbie.

In addition, 204 early childhood centres had been shut indefinitely by 10pm Monday.

Full list here

James Cook Univeristy’s Townsville campus will be open and operational until 3pm on Monday.

Cyclone tracker

CLICK HERE

Transport

Queensland Rail has cancelled trains travelling to and departing from Townsville and scheduled coaches to convey passengers north of Mackay.

Townsville Airport is still open and operational but Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Qantas have cancelled some flights on Monday and Tuesday.

Customers have been advised to check social media for updates or contact airlines directly for the latest information.

Residents in the affected areas are being warned to expect major road closures once the cyclone makes landfall, with all affected routes updated on the Queensland Traffic website.

All ports between Townsville and Abbot Point have been closed.

Energy

More than 30 specialised trucks are being driven to north Queensland to assist Ergon Energy crews with any required power restoration post cyclone.

Energy Queensland has 125 generators available, 35 mobile generators, four high voltage units and three mobile substations to assist.

More than 800 field staff are available to be deployed to the response zone from Ergon Energy, Energex and contractor resources.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed that power would be shut off in the warning zone from Monday. Residents have been advised to charge mobile phones and other devices in preparation.

Tidal surge and flooding

The Whitsunday Council has ordered a police-enacted evacuation of designated low lying areas in preparation for cyclone Debbie to make landfall. Residents living in the red and orange zones have been directed to evacuate their property and people living in the yellow zone have been advised to voluntarily evacuate.

The government is working with emergency services to model how a tidal surge could affect the coast with residents in other low lying areas being warned to prepare for a possible evacuation.

Queensland Surf Life Savers have closed all beaches between Mackay and Townsville.

Health services

Townsville Hospital and Health Service has cancelled elective surgeries scheduled for Monday and Tuesday ahead of Tropical Cyclone Debbie making landfall.

Elective surgical procedures will be rescheduled for a later date unless patients are specifically contacted by the hospital.

Endoscopy procedures, including colonoscopies, will still go ahead on Monday but procedures booked for Tuesday will not go ahead.

Outpatients appointments will run as normal on Monday but Tuesday’s appointments have also been cancelled.

At the Mater Hospital surgeries will proceed as normal on Monday and staff will be reviewing the plan for Tuesday’s appointments.

Home preparation and supplies

Sandbags are available from councils in Townsville, Bowen and Mackay.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government is making arrangements to replenish food supplies in Townsville today.

Sandbags placed under a restaurant next to the Rock Pool along the Strand in preparation for Cyclone Debbie. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Emergency contact

For storm and flood assistance contact the SES on 132 500 and in a life threatening emergency call triple-0.

Weather Map

Bureau of Meteorology

Emergency information

Whitsunday Disaster & Emergency

Townsville Disaster Information

Townsville Airport

Queensland Rail

Queensland Police Service

Radio

Cairns and Far North Queensland: 106.7FM

Townsville and North Queensland: 630AM

Mackay and Central Queensland: 101.1FM

TASKS TO DO BEFORE THE STORM HITS

1. Move wheelie bins inside or fill them up with water to prevent them flying away. Secure all other loose outdoor items.

2. Fill buckets and baths with fresh, clean water in case water supplies become restricted in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone. You will also need purification tablets to make the water drinkable.

3. Place outdoor, plastic furniture into a swimming pool if you have one to stop them from flying around in high winds.

4. Wrap a tarpaulin or a blanket around your car and secure it tightly if you can’t move it under shelter.

5. Identify the most secure place in your house.

In the worst-case scenario that your home begins tearing apart, you need to quickly move to the strongest part of your home.

This could be a cellar, an internal room, a hallway or built-in wardrobe, under a bed, or even a strong table or bench.

In this scenario, you won’t have long, so it’s important everyone in your family is aware of the procedures if this occurs.