The Whitsunday Disaster Coordination Centre is asking all residents to stay off the roads and conserve water as much as possible, in the wake of power outages and fallen powerlines across the Whitsunday region after Tropical Cyclone Debbie.
All Whitsunday residents are urged to conserve water in their homes to ease the pressure on water and sewerage networks, currently without power.
Operators are currently working with Ergon Energy to reestablish temporary generators as soon as possible until power can be fully restored.
Flash flooding and inundation is also affecting the region, and residents are reminded to stay off the roads and if it is flooded, forget it.
Chair of the Whitsunday Disaster Management Committee and Mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council, Andrew Willcox, stressed the importance of staying safe and helping the rest of the community by saving water.
“Please don’t waste water by hosing your property down or letting the tap run,” he said this morning.
“Until Ergon and SES operators are able to get to communities and properly assess the damage, I am also asking you to please steer clear of fallen powerlines and debris, and do not go sightseeing or enter flood waters.”
“While there has been significant damage to properties and services across the region, it has been great to see the community spirit shown by you all as people look out for each other this morning.”
Emergency Services will be on the ground shortly, with priorities including life safety, rescues, impact assessment, assessing critical infrastructure and arranging places of refuge for those residents who need it.
While Tropical Cyclone Debbie has moved on from the Whitsunday region heading south-west, heavy rain and strong winds are still forecast for the region over the next few days.
To hear the latest up-to-date information and official advice, listen to your local radio stations and follow the Whitsunday Disaster & Emergency Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/WhitsundayDisasterandEmergencyInformation/
Important phone numbers:
If you have a life threatening emergency, please call 000 immediately.
If you require SES assistance, please call 132 500. The SES’s priority after the event will be providing access to residents (eg. Clearing trees from driveways etc.)
If you need to contact the Whitsunday Disaster Coordination Centre, please call 1300 972 006 and provide information as requested by the telephone operator.
Red Cross has now opened Register.Find.Reunite. and is urging people that may be affected by Cyclone Debbie to get in touch with their families and friends. Please visit www.redcross.org.au to register, or look for someone.