Tropical Cyclone Alfred news and updates, Friday March 7
Stay in touch with all the latest news in posts below.
Key Events
Famous faces trapped in Australia
American rapper and actor Ice Cube is among those trapped while waiting for Alfred to hit.
He is in the country for his Australian tour and is due to perform in Sydney on Friday night.
But for the time being he is stuck on the Gold Coast, telling The Project that the beach looked like it was “going to be in the hotel lobby in a minute”.
“It is pretty cool. I haven’t been through a cyclone before. I can check this off my bucket list for sure,” he said.
Reality sinking in
Aussie influencer and Moana Bikini business owner Karina Irby has shown her more than one million followers how she is preparing her beachfront home for Alfred’s impact.
The bikini mogul and her partner have done their best to tape the glass windows of their upstairs bedroom that looks out to the ocean, which is looking incredibly wild.
They have also relocated from their upstairs bedroom to a downstairs one to ensure their safety upon the storm’s impact.
The influencer also has battery operated torches on hand and said she was “excited and scared”.
Irby said the wind along the coast is picking up and howling, and the ocean is very loud.
‘Evacuate before 9pm’: SES issues evacuation orders and warnings
The NSW SES has issued a number of evacuation orders and warnings for parts of the Northern Rivers region due to dangerous flooding.
Around 7000 residents in Lismore, Fingal Head, Billinudgel, Uki, Bungawalbin, Tumbulgum, and parts of Coraki and Kyogle have been told to leave before 9pm, with only three hours notice.
Residents were advised to stay with family or friends or find alternate accomodation at evacuation centres.
“If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services,” the NSW SES statement read.
“It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you, and buildings may not be able to withstand the impact of flood water.”
Evacuation warnings have also been issued for the towns of East Coraki, areas of North Arm Road and High Street in Bowraville, Bungawalbin and surrounding areas, Doonbah and surrounds, North Woodburn and surrounds and Coraki are on the list.
Those in the wider Northern Rivers region are advised to stay indoors unless directed to evacuate.
Residents are advised to check Hazard Watch for updates and extra information.
Read more on Cyclone Alfred here.
Up to 10,000 homes without power in NSW
Essential Energy - the main energy operator for Northern NSW - says 10,000 homes and businesses are without power, as strong winds blow vegetation and trees into the electricity network.
An Essential Energy spokeswoman said homes could be left in the dark “for long periods of time” as Alfred will hamper restoration efforts.
She said 10,000 properties between Tweed Heads and Bulahdelah had lost power as of 4.30pm on Thursday.
“Essential Energy crews are working to restore (the network) as soon as it is safe to do so, with some locations unable to be accessed due to heavy rainfall flooding river crossings or water on the roads,” the spokeswoman said.
Wild scenes as huge swells lash Gold Coast
Damaging swells are wreaking havoc along the Gold Coast with residents taking to social media to share footage of wild scenes as Cyclone Alfred approaches.
Gold Coast residents were shocked to see a huge swell completely wash out a road at Currumbin beach.
The video, posted to TikTok, was shot on Wednesday by Ashton Marsh, at Elephant Rock next to Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club at the southern end of the Gold Coast.
The huge swell engulfed the club’s carpark and washed over the Pacific Parade esplanade.
“Cyclone Alfred has trapped us and destroyed the road at Currumbin Beach,” Marsh wrote.
Those responding to the video were concerned as to why they were out at the beach in the first place, given the conditions.
Another video posted to X shows swimmers being washed away in a strom surge.
Meanwhile another resident over at Burleigh Heads posted a video of a choppy swell smashing the shoreline and whitewash rising quickly, hitting The Burleigh Pavillion beachfront restaurant and causing beachgoers to get off the sand.
“I’m starting to think Alfred is going to do more damage then expected,” the TikTok user posted.
‘Scared and it hasn’t even hit yet!’
In one video posted to TikTok a Gold Coast resident shows the view from her apartment at Southport at about 11.30am local time, showing gloomy skies, rain and strong winds.
“Gold Coast we are so f****d mate,” they wrote, adding they were on level 13 and could already feel the “windows buckling and shaking”.
“It’s double glazed thick but roaring sound.
They wrote they were already “scared” and “it hasn’t even hit land yet!”
“We will be hiding in the laundry hallways and fire escapes if the windows explode from flying debris when Alfred slams into the Goldie.”
“Sooooo nervous.”
Police remind residents to save emergency warning number to phone
Queensland Police have sent a reminder to residents to follow the advice of local authorities and emergency services in the days ahead.
Police have been out in force door-knocking to ensure people are ready, as Cyclone Alfred approaches, with officers deployed to at risk areas including the Moreton and Bay Island communities.
On Saturday, hundreds of officers also door knocked in low-lying at-risk areas across mainland Brisbane, including Victoria Point, Nudgee Beach and Sandgate.
Today, police are continuing to conduct proactive patrols.
Brisbane Disaster District Co-ordinator, Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman reminded residents to stay up to date with information and Emergency alerts from +61 444 444 444 and to not block the number.
“It is imperative for your safety that you follow all safety warnings and receive up-to-date information from reputable sources regarding the location and risks of this severe weather event,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Wildman said.
‘Prayers for the prawn’: Locals hope Ballina’s Big Prawn will survive TC Alfred
Over in Ballina, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, residents are worried about how their beloved tourist attraction the Big Prawn will fare in the storm to come.
Locals have taken to the Ballina Community Notice Board to share their concers, with one resident posting a picture of the iconic statue along with the caption: “First casualty of TC Alfred, the prawn has lost an antenna”.
“My 5-year-old son would be devastated! He always waves at it when we drive by,” one local wrote.
“Nooo! I love you Ballina big prawn. Hang in there,” another commented.
Another local called for of all Ballina council’s profits to be thrown at saving the iconic town feature.
“Nothing else matters,” they wrote, jokingly.
“Prayers for the prawn,” said another.
‘This is a time to be sensible’: Crisafulli warns
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli sent a warning to adrenaline junkies heading into dangerous surf.
“We want people to stay safe and so does your family,” he said.
“So often during these events … you can experience a loss of life from people doing things that they otherwise would not normally do.
“But this is the time to be sensible, this is the time to do all you can to be with your loved ones and make plans and do the little things right.”
He called on residents “to be sensible in the way they conduct themselves”.
“The best way we can do that is explain the dangers and put forward the risk and continue to do that,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“We just want to see people stay in one piece, we want to see people be safe.”
Mr Crisafulli said there were already enough challenges to face – including strong winds, heavy rains, flooding and storm damage.
“Don’t go putting yourself in harm’s way in the process,” he said.
The Bureau of Meteorolgy has warned of dangerous storm tides, abnormally high tides and damaging surf.
SES receives 1,300 calls for help as blackouts begin
The State Emergency Service has already been extremely busy with more than 1,300 calls for assistance in the past 24 hours.
Most calls so far have been from vulnerable people and those who need help sandbagging and preparing their homes.
Meanwhile, Energex is dealing with widespread power outages, with around 5,000 customers already without power on the Gold Coast and Redland.
Energy says 1,200 staff members have been deployed to respond to the outages and provide assistance as the storm impacts the region.
Earlier today, Premier David Crisafulli said councils had been very proactive, keeping sandbagging centres open to help residents prepare for the storm.
“This morning we have distributed an extra 250,000 sandbags to local governments to support the continued operation of those centres,” Crisafulli said.
