Iconic Daydream Island mermaids washed into the sea
RESIDENTS running low on drinking water have finally been permitted to venture outside in preparation for mass evacuation later today.
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ABOUT 400 guests and staff who rode out Cyclone Debbie on Daydream Island have finally been permitted to leave the safety of their cyclone-proof rooms and are expected to be evacuated later today.
Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Wilcox said military helicopters would be used to transport people to the mainland.
“They (locals) are running out of drinking water,” he said.
“They will be transferred by air.”
Bree Bryde, 20, said she had been working in a restaurant on the tropical island for just six days when the Category 4 storm hit.
She and about 120 staff packed an emergency bag with their valuables, laptops, phone chargers and necessities and chose to remain on the island in the cyclone-proof Great Barrier Reef room instead of evacuating prior to the cyclone.
“At this point, we didn’t know how serious the cyclone was going to be,” she said via Facebook messenger from the island.
Miss Bryde said about 280 guests also chose to remain on the island and were accommodated in the Daydream Island room, one level lower, although she said some guests chose to stay in their rooms.
Both evacuation rooms had their windows shuttered, so the occupants were not able to see too much of the cyclone at its strongest.
“We did watch over the balcony and watch the atrium fill with mist,” Miss Bryde said.
“You could feel the temperature start dropping as the cyclone got closer and picked up.
“We’ve all just heard things banging around as well as the wind howling, and we watched the fairy lights on the roof shake.
“We also heard things come off the roof and a lot of wind and things banging outside.”
Miss Bryde said she lived in Cairns when Cyclone Yasi hit years ago, but did not remember much of that cyclone.
“I should have cared a bit more for this cyclone. It was huge and it was devastating,” she said.
“Parts of the island are ruined.”
Originally from Cairns in Far North Queensland, Miss Bryde said those on Daydream Island were expecting to be evacuated later today.
Guests would be picked up first, followed by staff.
They were unclear as to who would be evacuating the island residents, considering the tropical resort’s jetty had been washed away in the cyclone.
Miss Bryde, the oldest of two girls, said despite some of the foreign staff being “terrified,” they remained calm in front of the guests.
“They had never been in a cyclone and didn’t really even fully understand what one was,” she said.
“But they appeared cool, calm and collected to guests.
“I think a bigger worry was there are a few backpackers and all of their belongings were back in staff accommodation and we just didn’t know what was going on back there or if they had belongings to go back to.”
Miss Bryde praised the island’s managers for being professional during the natural disaster.
“I didn’t want people upset and freaking out, because I knew we were safe,” she said.
“Our managers and staff above us did an exceptional job in looking after us and putting our safety first.”
Miss Bryde said she looks forward to having a post-cyclone party once everything settles down.
WATER SUPPLIES LOW
DAYDREAM Island residents are expected to be evacuated by ferry today in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie.
Local media reports authorities are working on getting a vessel out to the island, east of Airlie Beach, but the ferry would have to find a new location to moor after the island’s jetty was destroyed by the cyclone.
#CycloneDebbie #daydreamIsland pic.twitter.com/9gVtTrBd6I
— Jessica Swann (@JessicaSwann) March 28, 2017
There are no reports of injuries, but drinking water is running low.
“We have lost water supply in Cannonvale! Conserve what supplies you can! The next few days are going to tough! Be Prepared,” a tweet from tourism organisation Whitsundays Online read.
— Jessica Swann (@JessicaSwann) March 28, 2017
Daydream Island Resort and Spa guests have been told they no longer have access to the region’s water supply.
Guests have been supplied with one bottle of water each and have been asked to cooperate, a letter circulated by resort management says.
Efforts are under way to evacuate guests off the island today.
There goes the warf and dock! #cyclonedebbie #whitessundays #australia #daydreamisland pic.twitter.com/VMcJ8bz6i7
— Arjuna George (@AJGeorgefire) March 29, 2017
DAYDREAM MERMAIDS WASHED AWAY
Two of the island’s iconic mermaids have been washed into the sea as Tropical Cyclone Debbie hammered the Whitsunday Islands unleashing catastrophically strong winds and heavy rain throughout the day.
“Daydream Island Resort and Spa has along with surrounding areas borne the brunt of Cyclone Debbie today,” a statement from the getaway destination read.
“Conditions were extreme with heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts causing damage to the resort and surrounds.
“While conditions are still dangerous outside we aren’t able to ascertain the full extent of damage, however we can initially advise the following has occurred.”
The Whitsunday Times report the release then went on to list a number of items which have been damaged including the resort’s jetty and pontoons, its spa, the main atrium, accommodation wings and a section of boardwalk and two of the three iconic Mermaid statues which have been swept away.
“The resort’s priority at the moment is the ongoing safety of on-island guests and staff who will need to be taken off island as soon as practical.
“Daydream Island is endeavouring to contact all guests arriving on Daydream in the near future.”
The damage comes just two months after a refurbishment of the resort was announced in January.
There is presently no word on whether or not the planned $50 million makeover will be impacted by today’s damage.
About 280 guests and 120 staff members rode out the cyclone on Daydream Island, with guests and staff in separate areas.
The island lost phone reception for at least 24 hours.
Previous and regular visitors to the islands have commented on Daydream Island’s Facebook page their sadness about hearing two of the three mermaid statues have been washed away, some comments complete with crying emojis.
A woman still on the island, who asked not to be named, said they have been informed the navy was coming to pick up the guests.
The woman said those on the island had been given the optional choice to evacuate or to stay, and had been told the buildings were built to category-5 strength standards.
She said at the peak of the storm, a number of foreign visitors who had never been through a cyclone had cried while other people tried to talk to them and keep them calm.
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