Tropical Cyclone Alfred: How to prepare for sheltering in your home as
As Cyclone Alfred slowly moves closer to the coast, residents have been urged to seek shelter inside. Here’s how you can prepare for securing and sheltering your home.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall on Friday evening, and for those living between southeast Queensland and northeast NSW, it’s imperative to prepare your home.
About 4.5 million Australians are bracing for blistering gale force winds, severe and intense rainfall and destructive flooding.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said sheltering at home is the safest option for the majority of residents in TC Alfred’s firing line.
“We recommend that you stay with family and friends, if that is possible that is the best place for you to go if you evacuate from one of those zones,” he said on Wednesday.
“Right now the best thing you can do is prepare your home.”
Ahead of the looming arrival of TC Alfred, Get Ready Queensland has issued a series of best-practice steps for securing and sheltering inside your home.
Secure outdoor items
– Remove loose debris, such as branches hanging over the house and clogged gutters, which could create a leak and cause further damage to the roof
– Remove or tie down outdoor furniture, pot plants, kennels and other loose items that may become dangerous when lifted into the air by gale force winds
Where to shelter in your home
Find the strongest, smallest internal room in the house with the least windows, such as:
– A bathroom
– A walk-in wardrobe
– A hallway
If you are sheltering in a room with windows, Get Ready Queensland recommends
covering windows with a mattress or a heavy blanket to protect you from glass if the window breaks
Tape/board up windows
Despite popular belief, taping your windows in an “X” formation will not make them any more resistant to breaking.
– Tape up your windows with plastic sheeting or large rubbish bags
– Apply tape to the edges to prevent water and wind from coming through
– Secure plastic sheeting, blankets and towels to windows to protect you from broken glass
– No need to tape in an “X” formation, as it does not reduce risk of breakage
Close every door and window
Strong winds that enter windows or doors can increase the internal pressure inside your home, which could put pressure on the roof.
– Close every door and window inside your home, including internal doors
– Cover windows with mattresses, towels, blankets and rubbish bags to prevent wind and rain from entering the home
– Put blankets and towels at the bottom of doors to prevent wind from entering gaps
Turn off electrical items
Depending on where you live, you may be told to switch off your water, electricity, solar and gas services.
Cyclones can cause power surges, flooding and bring down electricity poles, which can become particularly dangerous if electricity and gas services are still running.
– Know where the switches are in your house
– Make a note how they can be safely switched off
Sandbagging your home
– Place sandbags outside the entry points of your home to prevent floodwater from entering the house
Park somewhere safe
Before sheltering, make sure your car is parked in a place that is sheltered out of the firing line.
– Park your car away from trees, powerlines and waterways
– Make sure your car has enough fuel
Protecting your caravan
– Securely tie down yourroof with a strong net firmly fixed at ground level and passing over the full length of the caravan
– Tie down the caravan chassis to anchor points using either short lengths of strong chain and turnbuckles or a sound rope of at least 9.2mm in diameter
– If there is no anchor available, dig holes underneath the caravan wheel to increase wind resistance, and sink posts of angle iron at the tyre corners
– Park with the narrow end facing the wind
– Apply the brakes and chock the wheels
– Take down any awnings
Pack an emergency kit
In the event of an emergency, residents should prepare an emergency kit with essentials for sheltering from the tropical cyclone.
An emergency kit should be stored in a strong, windproof and waterproof container with essential items including:
– First aid kit
– Toiletries, including toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste and soap
– Mobile phone and portable charger/battery pack
– Sturdy and protective gloves
– Face masks for the whole family
– Non-perishable foods that can last for three days
– Pet supplies
– Physical and up-to-date copies of important documents, such as your passport and driver’s license
– A USB with digital/scanned copies of important documents, contacts and emails
– A can opener
– Tissues
– A torch
– Batteries
– Spare clothes and cash
– Important medication
– A whistle to inform people if you need assistance
Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner warned residents to avoid being on the road during the cyclone and urged people to “stay indoors”.
“If you are driving on the road during gale force winds, anything can happen,” he said on Wednesday.
“It can be an incredibly dangerous situation.
“There can be items that have become projectiles that can crash into you. There can be fallen power lines as a result of fallen trees that can electrocute you.
He added “curiosity is a reality” but advised people to stay inside until the cyclone has passed before they explore the impact of the cyclone.
“Please stay indoors,” he urged.
“It is the safest place for you. If that is in your home, stay at home.
“But certainly we encourage people not to be out and about on the roads.”
What happens when Cyclone Alfred hits
Flash flooding and storm surges are the chief concerns as Tropical Cyclone Alfred surges toward millions of people, bringing with it torrential rain and strong winds.
Aussies stranded as road washes away
In videos posted to social media, the group could be seen waving from a lookout in the Gold Coast as huge swells caused by Cyclone Alfred surrounded them.
Alfred’s wild weather to worsen overnight
Authorities are warning millions to brace for worsening conditions from Tropical Cyclone Alfred, more than 24 hours before the category 2 storm is expected to cross the coast.