Published on Saturday, 10 April 2021 at 7:07:24 AM
Good Morning Shire of Upper Gascoyne.
There are two weather alerts this morning from DFES as below.
Cyclone Blue Alert - Midwest-Gascoyne
Storm - Prepare - Exmouth Gulf Coast and parts of Gascoyne Coast
Cyclone Blue Alert - Midwest-Gascoyne
The following alert has been issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES)
Evacuation Directions has been declared for the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and come into effect from 6am, Saturday 10 April. If you are in or around the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, access the link in the WHAT TO DO section below for important information. Please note changes in the Cyclone details section.
For COVID-19 related information refer to the COVID-19 section below.
Date of issue: 10 April 2021
Cyclone BLUE ALERT for south of Coral Bay to Geraldton in the Midwest-Gascoyne
A BLUE ALERT is current for people south of Coral Bay to Geraldton, not including Coral Bay but including Geraldon, due to Tropical Cyclone Seroja. Although there is no immediate danger you need to start preparing for dangerous weather and keep up to date.
- Get ready for dangerous weather by preparing your home inside and out.
- Secure boats, caravans, trailers, garden sheds, outdoor furniture, rainwater tanks, LPG bottles, loose material and rubbish around your home and workplace.
- Ensure your emergency kit and relocation kit are complete and check your family knows what to do.
- Check in with friends and neighbours to make sure they’re preparing too.
- Holidaymakers and people travelling should avoid this area. If staying in accommodation, ensure it is safe and speak with your accommodation provider.
- If camping in a tent or caravan, you are not safe and should seek safer accommodation or leave now.
- North West Coastal Highway will possibly be closed over the weekend and travellers north of Minilya will not be able to travel south.
- Your only option then will be to travel further north, and there could be further restrictions on major highways in the coming days.
- If you are travelling south, have a plan. Fuel may be in short supply and accommodation may not be available.
- If you are on a vessel on the water or on an island off the coast between Coral Bay and Geraldton, including the Abrolhos Islands, you need to leave now or take shelter, safe haven or anchorage. The responsibility sits with the Master or Skipper.
- For anyone unfamiliar with the impacts of a cyclone, your safest option is to leave the warning area.
- Evacuation Directions been declared for the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and come into effect from 6am, Saturday 10 April. If you are in or around the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, visit the DFES website below for further details
As at 10 April 2021 03:00 AM the Bureau of Meteorology advised:
Weather conditions will change rapidly near the west coast on Sunday as Seroja is forecast to accelerate to the southeast making landfall late Sunday or early Monday between Carnarvon and Jurien Bay.
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 45 kilometres of 20.5 degrees South 108.4 degrees East, estimated to be 630 kilometres west northwest of Coral Bay and 730 kilometres northwest of Carnarvon.
Movement: southwest at 11 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Seroja (category 2) continues to track to the southwest over open waters well to the west of the North West Cape. Seroja will continue to intensify today as it begins to move south possibly reaching severe category 3 on Saturday night. During Sunday the system accelerates while taking a southeast track and weakening slightly as it approaches the central west coast. Weather conditions will change and deteriorate rapidly near the west coast on Sunday as Seroja approaches the coast, making landfall late Sunday or early Monday between Carnarvon and Jurien Bay. The cyclone should gradually weaken as it moves inland on Monday but still likely to be causing gusty winds east and north of the track.
GALES with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour are likely to develop in an area between Coral Bay and Kalbarri during Sunday. Gales will extend further south towards Lancelin and inland into the Gascoyne and northern Wheatbelt later Sunday and then further inland to the southern Goldfields during Monday. DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 150 kilometres per hour are forecast to occur closer to the centre of Seroja as it moves across the coast and into adjacent inland parts. HEAVY TO INTENSE RAINFALL and FLASH FLOODING are likely close to the track of Seroja during Sunday and Monday. ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES could cause minor flooding at the coast between Coral Bay and Lancelin, increasing to be SERIOUS FLOODING in the Denham and Shark Bay region.
For current Bureau of Meteorology Watch and Warnings visit www.bom.gov.au/cyclone.
What to do if you are self-isolating or quarantining due to COVID-19:
- If you are in an area subject to COVID-19 restrictions, put your cyclone plan into action now and continue to follow precautions to minimise spread of the virus.
- If you have been personally directed to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19:
- Decide where you will shelter during the cyclone. If it is not safe to shelter in your current location, find alternative suitable premises and wear a mask.
- If a Red Alert has been issued for your location, shelter in place immediately.
- If you are unable to return to your quarantine location within one hour, telephone WA Police on 131 444 to advise them you have had to leave due to an emergency.
- Regardless of your location, continue to follow COVID-19 precautions and maintain appropriate physical distancing.
ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Some roads may be closed and motorists are asked to reduce speed and drive carefully.
Never drive into water of unknown depth and current.
Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by calling 138 138 or visiting travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au or by contacting your Local Government Authority. For road conditions in the Shire of Upper Gascoyne visit
www.uppergascoyne.wa.gov.au/roadreport For neighbouring Shires refer to the Shires Emergency Weather Contact List found on our website.
- Animal owners are encouraged to prepare an animal emergency kit now with sufficient food, water, essential medications, halters and leads, cages and bedding adequate for several days.
- Provide food and water in an area least likely to flood. Provide supplementary feed (such as hay) for livestock.
- For properties in danger of flooding, move all stock to the highest area of the property away from water sources and plains likely to flood.
- Consider raising food stores to elevated ground to prevent flood damage
- Consider opening internal property gates to allow animals to move to dry ground.
- Be aware of the risks to your animals and your property and keep yourself updated during high-risk periods.
There are multiple park closures in the warning area. Visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au for more information.
WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING:
- DFES is monitoring the situation.
- DFES personnel have been deployed to Geraldton in preparation for Tropical Cyclone Seroja.
- The Incident Management Team are planning for all contingencies pre and post impact of Tropical Cyclone Seroja, to ensure the safety of the community.
- State Emergency Service (SES) Volunteers from Geraldton/Greenough, Kalbarri, Shark Bay and Carnarvon are assisting with operations and ready to respond if requested.
- Volunteer Marine Rescue Geraldton are assisting with radio warnings.
- Local Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Bush Fire Brigades across the Midwest Gascoyne and Pilbara are ready to respond and assist.
- For SES assistance call 132 500
- In a life threatening situation call 000
- For the latest weather information call 1300 659 210 or visit www.bom.gov.au
- For information about road conditions and closures contact local Police or Main Roads WA on 138 138.
- Visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter: twitter.com/dfes_wa, Facebook: facebook.com/dfeswa/, listen to ABC Local Radio, or news bulletins.
- During a power outage, your home phone, computer or other electronic devices connected to the NBN will not work. Include a battery powered radio in your emergency kit.
- Updates will be provided when the situation changes
WEATHER WARNING TWO
Storm - Prepare - Exmouth Gulf Coast and parts of Gascoyne Coast
The following alert has been issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
Please note changes under Weather situation section
Date of issue: 10 April 2021
Prepare now for severe weather in parts of Pilbara, Midwest-Gascoyne
If you live in Exmouth Gulf Coast and parts of Gascoyne Coast you need to get ready now for the severe weather coming this afternoon and evening.
This includes people in Exmouth, Coral Bay and North West Cape
This is unusual weather that could cause damage to homes and make travel dangerous.
- Trim branches around your home to prevent them falling on your roof or car.
- Clear gutters and downpipes so they do not overflow after heavy rain.
- Store or weigh down loose objects around your home or work like outdoor furniture that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds, causing damage or injury.
- Prepare an emergency kit with a battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.
- Organise an emergency plan, including a plan to evacuate for your family and pets in case your home becomes flooded.
At 10/04/2021 05:21:00 the Bureau of Meteorology advised Tropical Cyclone Odette is situated well to the northwest of the Pilbara coast. It will approach the far northwest of the state during Saturday and although it is expected to have weakened, a brief period of strong to gale force winds is possible during Saturday afternoon or evening. Damagin winds with gusts to 90 kilometres per hour are possible and could cause damage ro homes and property between Exmouth and Coral Bay during Saturday afternoon or evening. Winds are expected to increase for a period of only a few hours before easing again as the system passes quickly to the southwest and continues to weaken.A Tropical Cyclone Watch is current for areas of the west coast between Coral Bay and Lancelin due to a second system, Tropical Cyclone Seroja. For further information go to http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/index.shtml
ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Some roads may be closed. Take extra care on the roads and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.
Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by calling 138 138 or visiting travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au or by contacting your Local Government Authority. Current road conditions for the Shire of Upper Gascoyne can be found at
www.uppergascoyne.wa.gov.au/roadreport
WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING: DFES is monitoring the situation.
- If your home has been badly damaged by a storm, call the SES on 132 500
- In a life threatening situation call 000
- After a storm SES volunteers make temporary repairs to homes that have been badly damaged, such as roofs that have been ripped off or large fallen trees on homes or cars. Please contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs.
Visit emergency.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter: twitter.com/dfes_wa, Facebook: facebook.com/dfeswa, listen to ABC Local Radio, 6PR, or news bulletins.
During a power outage, your home phone, computer or other electronic devices connected to the NBN will not work. Include a battery powered radio in your emergency kit.
Updates will be provided when the situation changes.
When a Blue Alert is issued you need to start preparing
• Keep up to date with the development of the cyclone through radio, television or internet
• Find out when shops and businesses will close, and when to collect your children from school
• Secure items like boats, caravans, trailers, garden sheds, rainwater tanks, outdoor furniture, loose materials, LPG bottles and rubbish around your home and work.
• Organise your emergency kit including first aid kit, essential medications, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water
• Consider relocating people with special needs including people who are pregnant, elderly or have disabilities
• Identify the strongest part of your house or the closest welfare centre
• Identify a safe place for your pet (most welfare centres do not accept pets, but do accept guide dogs)
• Ensure you have adequate tie down materials or anchor points for loose items
• Organise a gas barbeque or portable stove to use outside in a dry, ventilated area, in case electricity is cut
• Remind your family of cyclone procedures
When a Yellow Alert is issued you need to take action
• Monitor radio, television or internet for information on the cyclone’s progress, particularly any storm surge advice
• Know where your family and pets are located
• Consider sheltering pets early
• Be aware that shops will now be closing
• Obtain cash as banking services may not be available.
• Put fuel in your vehicle and park it in a sheltered area with the handbrake on and in park or first gear
• Ensure your emergency kit is complete and fill emergency containers with water
• Make sure your neighbours have received this warning. If you are ready and they need help, give them a hand
• Fasten all cyclone screens. Board up or heavily tape exposed windows. Close curtains and lock doors
• Pack a relocation kit, including warm clothes. Place valuables, important papers and photos in waterproof bags to be taken with your kit
• Prepare to move quickly to the strongest part of your house or relocate to the nearest relocation centre if required
• If you live in a low-lying coastal area and the cyclone is likely to create a storm surge, you may be advised to relocate now
• Refer to your family cyclone plan
When a Red Alert is issued you need to take shelter immediately
• Keep listening to your portable radio for information on the cyclones progress
• Disconnect electrical appliances and turn off gas supply valves
• Ensure that pets and animals are safely sheltered
• Go immediately to the strongest, safest part of your house or the building you are in (i.e. internal hallway, bathroom or toilet) or to the closest welfare centre
• Keep your emergency kit with you
• Take your relocation kit with you if you have been advised to relocate.
• Stay away from doors and windows, and keep them closed and locked
• Stay inside until the All Clear is given by authorities
When an All Clear is issued you need to take care to avoid dangers caused by damage
• Listen for information and follow advice from authorities
• If you need to go outside, be careful because power lines could be down and there may be fallen trees, broken water and sewage lines, loose roof sheeting and other material
• Check to see if your neighbours are safe
• Check whereabouts of pets and animals.
• If your property has sustained serious damage and you need help, call the SES for assistance on 132 500
• For life threatening emergencies call 000
• Avoid using the telephone except for emergencies.
• Start cleaning up around your home, stack loose material clear of water meters, valves and telephone lines
• If you relocated from your home, wait for advice before you go back
• If returning home take the roads recommended by authorities and do not hurry
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