00:01Cookshire is currently under an Australian Warning System alert to prepare now for Tropical
00:08Cyclone Norell. This means conditions are expected to worsen and people need to take
00:14action now and to be ready to shelter as the system approaches. Tropical Cyclone Norell
00:20is a severe system currently tracking slightly north of Cowan, with the crossing expected
00:29to be tomorrow morning around about 10am. This system is expected to bring destructive winds
00:38along with heavy rainfall and it will be at this stage a Category 5 system when it hits
00:44the coast. For residents in Cowan, Portland roads and communities further north, this
00:50is a serious weather event and this is now the time to complete preparations and be ready
00:56to shelter. We are asking you to store water now and fill containers including bath tubs
01:04and water bottles so you have sufficient water to carry you through the evening. The water
01:10supply in Cowan will be turned off this evening at 10pm, Thursday 19 March ahead of the system
01:18crossing the coast. I would strongly encourage everyone to take note of this because there
01:23will be no water out of your taps after 10pm tonight until the system crosses tomorrow and
01:28it is safely for our staff to go back and turn the water back on. Ensure your emergency kits,
01:36food, medications and supplies are ready. While the Tropical Cyclone is expected to cross
01:42in the north, impacts will be felt across the Shire. Heavy rainfall is expected from tonight,
01:49with Friday being the peak day. There is an increased risk of flash flooding across the Shire.
01:56A flood watch is also in place across the region so it is really important that people take
02:02on board that this is not just general flooding, it will be significant flooding and I really
02:07want people to listen to what we are saying. There are no plans for further evacuations prior
02:13to the Cyclone crossing, however residents across the Shire should prepare for heavy rain, strong
02:19winds and possible flash flooding and to be ready to shelter when conditions worsen. Conditions
02:27will worsen, it is not a matter of if or when they will worsen so we want everyone to be
02:32safe when the system does cross particularly past Cowan. The safest option for most people is
02:40to shelter in place somewhere secure and that means shelter at home or go to your friends
02:46place wherever it is possible. Identify the strongest and safest room in your home away
02:54from windows and be ready to shelter when the conditions do worsen. If you can stay with
03:00family or friends in a safe location this is ideal. If you do not have somewhere safe to go we
03:05encourage
03:06people to contact our disaster management team and we will give you some guidance in that
03:11area but this window of opportunity will close this afternoon. Our contact details for Council's
03:18disaster management team is 40820500 or if you want to email it is the dmo at cook.qld.gov.au.
03:28As always in an emergency
03:30we encourage everyone to dial 000. Please check in on family, friends and neighbours, particularly those
03:38who may need extra support. Other conditions currently impacting the shire is the Laura River which is
03:46currently over the bridge and the potential development road is now closed to through traffic from Laura. We are aware
03:55that TMR could also close the Mulligan Highway this afternoon.
03:59That will depend on flash flooding. All schools across the shire are now closed and will be closed tomorrow. The
04:08current clinic will remain operational as long as it is safe to do so.
04:13In an emergency the community members should call 000. Cookshire communities are strong, connected and experienced. Stay informed, finalise your
04:23preparations and please be ready to shelter.
04:28Your time for preparing is almost up and I cannot reiterate enough that you have a couple of hours left
04:35to make sure that you have finalised everything.
04:38Just remember that preparing is about being ready. It is not being worried. We just want everyone to make that
04:49transition from finalising preparations to going to a safe place to bunker down for the systems crossing.
04:56People are here. Their excellent walking.
04:57They are just a happy-minded right now. They are all wpaveing my leader накar.
04:57Word change.
04:57Well Our state is not moving forward.
04:58It is not moving forward.
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