00:00 Some of the main areas of concern and what we're kind of looking at is along the north
00:05 coast of Queensland.
00:06 Those include Mackay, Cooktown, as well as Cairns and Townsville that could potentially
00:11 be impacted by tropical cyclone Jasper in the event that it does continue its trajectory
00:16 moving along the, towards the coast of Queensland.
00:20 Now the state's disaster coordination centre confirmed this morning that they are on high
00:25 alert and preparations have already begun and are underway in those areas of concern
00:30 to develop potential evacuation centres for residents that may need in the event that
00:34 Jasper does cross the coast early next week.
00:39 Now according to the BOM's latest modelling, Jasper is expected to actually weaken over
00:44 the weekend as it heads west, but the main concern is that there is the potential it
00:48 could re-intensify as it approaches the Queensland coast.
00:52 So the BOM's track map which has been showing the path of Jasper so far is indicating that
00:58 still Jasper remains over the Coral Sea, about a thousand kilometres east-north-east of Cairns
01:03 and is still being described as moving in a slow direction, but already here in Queensland
01:08 we're already feeling sort of the impacts of Jasper's presence.
01:11 The swells have intensified over the course of the morning.
01:15 Now the main concern of course is that according to the BOM we don't understand the exact path
01:21 or trajectory that Jasper is making so that could always be a potential risk as we head
01:26 into early next week.
01:27 This morning emergency services and emergency authorities urged people to make sure that
01:32 their properties are prepared nice and early and to ensure that people are keeping across
01:36 the updates on emergency services websites as well as the Bureau of Meteorology.
01:41 Now we've heard from Queensland SES who has urged residents in those areas of concern
01:47 to make sure they take the time over the weekend to prepare their properties and things including
01:52 cleaning up your yards, ensuring that any loose items are tied down.
01:57 Loose items can often become projectiles in the event of a cyclone so that is a major
02:01 concern.
02:02 On top of that they're urging people to clean out their gutters and make sure their emergency
02:06 plans are being well communicated within the community.
02:09 Now we've also heard from the state's disaster coordinator Shane Shalleppy earlier this morning.
02:14 He's urged people of North Mackay to make sure they've got their evacuation kits, emergency
02:21 kits prepared and ready to go.
02:23 Really basic stuff, keep your car topped up with petrol, have enough food in your house
02:27 to last you 72 hours.
02:29 Maybe get a little bit of extra bottled water, a power pack for your phone and just be aware
02:35 of what you may need to do because we know that if we get a cyclone across or if we get
02:40 flooding in towns, the first 72 hours are critical for emergency services to be able
02:46 to get our response mechanisms in place.
02:49 A big concern Miriam for authorities as well is that today is the start of the school holiday
02:54 period with lots of people travelling ahead of the Christmas season.
02:57 Authorities again urging to make sure people keep across the warnings and updates and make
03:02 sure that in the event that Tropical Cyclone Jasper may cross and make landfall next week
03:07 to make sure people do not drive across flood waters and to drive to the conditions as we
03:12 know cyclones do have the impact of bringing about severe rain as well as flooding conditions.
03:18 It all does come off the back of the fact that Queensland in the north is still feeling
03:22 the brunt of a heatwave that they will continue to feel for the next three days.
03:26 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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