March 12, 2009

Storm surge and wind gusts expected for Capricorn Coast region

The Bureau of Meteorology has announced that residents of the Capricorn Coast may experience
dangerous surf conditions, tidal storm surges and damaging wind gusts over the next 24 hour period.

The announcement was made as ex-Tropical Cyclone Hamish (located 270km northeast of
Gladstone) continues to track northwest at 20 kilometres per hour.

Rockhampton Regional Council will continue to monitor the system and does not wish to alarm
residents, but rather notify them to prepare their homes for severe wet weather activity.

Should residents require assistance in regard to storm damage or flooding they are requested to call
the State Emergency Services (SES) Call Centre on 132 500.

We ask that residents do not call the local offices of the SES as they have limited phone lines, and the
volunteers will be working to capacity providing assistance to the community as assigned to them by
the SES State Call Centre.

Requests for storm damage assistance such as for sandbags or tarps etc. should be directed to the
SES, not Council, on 132 500.

Please ensure your homes are made storm safe by clearing any objects and items that may become
airborne in a storm.

Take extreme caution around fallen trees or limbs as they may be concealing live power lines.

- ENDS –

I accidently shot a few photos while everything was lit up, and you can see those below. Unfortunately my camera (or my reflexes) aren’t good enough to take photos of the actual lightning.

This photo shows how dark the storm clouds were (it was still quite light when they rolled in)

Another accidental shot during a lightning strike.