Preparing for Tropical Cyclone Alfred? Here's what to do and where to find sandbags
You may be instructed to turn off your utilities like your water and gas supply, so make note of where those switches are now. (ABC News: Dannielle Maguire)
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to make landfall anywhere between southern parts of the Wide Bay region and the Gold Coast on Thursday or Friday.
Have you been affected by Cyclone Alfred? We want to hear your story.
So now's the time to prepare your home for intense wind, power outages and flooding.
Here's a checklist to help you get ready for what the cyclone brings.
What's the strongest room in your house?
It's important to know which room you'll go into in case you have to shelter in place.
Remember, the safest place is away from big windows.
It might be:
- A bathroom
- A walk-in wardrobe
- A hallway
"If you do have to shelter in place, cover any windows in your safe room with a mattress or heavy blanket to protect you from broken glass if the window breaks," the Queensland government's storm and flooding website says.
How do I prepare for a cyclone?
There are lots of things you can do to keep you and your family safe in a cyclone.
Fuel up your car
Make sure to fuel up your car so you are ready to evacuate if needed.
Park it in a sheltered area away from trees and powerlines, which may fall in strong winds.
If a flood is approaching, be prepared to leave your home quickly and early, and check for road closures before you leave.
Secure caravans and trailers
If possible, park caravans and trailers in a sheltered area.
Otherwise, park them with the narrow end facing the wind and away from trees and powerlines.
A strong net cast over the roof, passing the full length and firmly fixed in the ground, is the most secure way to tie down a caravan or trailer.
Apply the brakes and chock the wheels.
Remember to take down any awnings.
Know your insurance details
Check your insurance policy has enough cover for your home and contents.
Keep the contact details of your insurer and your policy number handy — either print it out or take a screenshot of your details on your phone.
Secure loose outdoor items
Keep your yard clear of leaves and rubbish, and remove vegetation from the fence line.
Look around for loose items like garden furniture, trampolines or toys.
Either move them inside or secure them.
Prepare your pets
Small pets
If possible, bring your pets indoors and make sure you have enough food and water as well as supplies to clean up any messes.
The Queensland government's severe weather advice recommends having supplies to last at least five days.
Plan in advance what you will do with your pets if you have to evacuate.
Keep in mind that pets may not be allowed in some evacuation shelters, unless they are a service animal.
Check if family and friends who live outside your area would be able to take care of them if you need to evacuate.
Large pets and livestock
If possible, move livestock, horses and other animals to a safe paddock with high ground or solid shelter.
Consider opening internal property gates to allow animals to move between paddocks to dry ground.
Ensure animals are supplied with enough water and supplementary feed to last at least five days.
Brace for power outages
Prolonged blackouts can happen in cyclone systems, so be prepared for long periods without electricity.
Have candles, matches and torch with batteries ready in case the power goes out.
If you need to light a room with just a torch, rest it on a table or bench and point it up towards the ceiling to maximise the amount of light.
Never use a power generator inside because it produces dangerous levels of carbon monoxide that can kill people.
Fully charge your phone and other communication devices — if you have spare power banks, ensure they're fully charged as well.
Have a full supply of gas for your barbecue or gas cooker to prepare meals.
If your power goes out and you're preparing meals, use up your most perishable items first — save the items that don't go off at room temperature for later.
Make sure you have a can opener if you've got tins without ring-pull openings.
The general advice is to discard perishable food after the power has been out for more than four hours.
So make sure you have non-perishable food on hand to keep you going just in case.
If the power does go out, minimise how often you're opening and closing the fridge or freezer to keep the cool in for as long as possible.
It power has been out for two hours, move items out of the fridge and store them in the freezer, if you have room, the Food Safety Information Council says.
"If your freezer is efficient, and its door seals are in good condition, it can maintain foods in a frozen state for between one and two-and-a-half days," the council says.
It says things like salted butter, margarine and hard cheeses will remain safe at room temperature.
Look after your roof, gutters and pipes
Check the condition of your roof and make any needed repairs.
Clean your gutters and downpipes of leaves and any other blockages.
Check with your local council about cutting away any tree branches hanging over your roof.
Contact your local power distributor if you spot any trees overhanging power lines.
Know how to use sandbags
While sandbags won't completely stop flood waters from approaching your property, they can reduce how much enters your home.
You can find a list of where to get sandbags below.
The Queensland government advises most standard homes and buildings can be protected with less than 25 sandbags.
The advice also states it's not always necessary to build a sandbag wall around your whole building to provide adequate protection.
"This may only be necessary if it is on stumps or constructed of materials such as timber or fibro sheeting," Get Ready Queensland's page on sandbags reads.
Place on a layer of plastic sheeting and build them up like brickwork.
Stagger the rows so joins don't line up and make sure the empty part of the bag is covered by the next bag.
Sandbags should be placed over drains to prevent back-flow of grey water.
Secure your windows
Repair any broken seals around windows and fix any rust, loose fittings and rotting timber.
If your home is in the expected path of the cyclone, board up any exposed windows, doors and seep holes if possible.
You can also tape plastic sheeting to the inside of windows to help keep wind and rain out of your home.
Know how to turn off your utilities
Be prepared to disconnect your utilities, such as gas, electricity, solar and water services if instructed.
So make a note of where those switches are now — and figure out how to switch them off if need be.
Some utility switches's labels might be difficult to read if they're quite old, so take a photo of what the switches look like while they're on so you know what it looks like.
Think about your water supply
Fill buckets or your bath with clean water in case access to the main supply is disrupted.
Fill up any water bottles you have in the house and keep them in the freezer if you have room — they will come in handy for keeping things cool if the power cuts out.
How do I stay up to date with the cyclone?
You can head to the ABC Emergency website for all updates, including a map of all the warnings.
We'll be live-blogging as the cyclone tracks closer to the coast, so stay across the ABC News website.
And ABC Emergency will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio, which you can stream on the ABC Listen App.
Here are the radio frequencies for local stations:
- Brisbane: 612AM
- Gold Coast: 91.7FM
- Grafton: 738 AM
- Murwillumbah: 720 AM
- NSW North Coast Richmond and Tweed: 94.5 FM
- Sunshine Coast: 90.3FM, 95.3FM or 1566AM
- Wide Bay: 855AM, 100.1FM, 88.3FM
Where do I find sandbags near me?
Queensland: Brisbane council area
- Acacia Ridge: Mortimer Road Park
- Boondall: Boondall Entertainment Centre car park.
- Camp Hill: Whites Hill Reserve, off Boundary Road
- Darra: 38 Shamrock Road, Darra
- Lota: Herbert Street, Lota.
- Morningside: 9 Redfern Street, Morningside
- Newmarket: 66 Wilston Road (in car park off Erneton Street), Newmarket
- Toowong: Old Toowong Bowls Club, Corner Gailey Road and Heroes Avenue
- Zillmere: 33 Jennings Street, Zillmere
- West End: Davies Park
- Darra: Atthows Park
- Murarrie: Murarrie Recreation Reserve
Read more on the Brisbane City Council's dedicated sandbags web page.
See more emergency details on the Brisbane City Council's emergency dashboard website.
Queensland: Gold Coast council area
- Bilinga: 42-44 Boyd Street, Bilinga (next to the City of Gold Coast Tugun Depot)
- Burleigh Heads: 61 Hutchinson Street, Burleigh Heads (at the Reedy Creek Waste and Recycling Centre)
- Carrara: Carrara Sports Precinct Parking, via Alabaster Drive, Carrara
- Pimpama: 196 Old Pacific Highway, Pimpama (next to the City of Gold Coast Coomera Depot)
- Tugan: Tugun Village Community Centre, 414 Coolangatta Road, Tugun
See more emergency details on the City of Gold Coast Council's disaster and emergency dashboard website.
Queensland: Ipswich council area
- Raceview: Raceview Council Depot, Briggs Road
- Rosewood: Raceview Council Depot, Mill Street
See more emergency details on the Ipswich City Council's disaster dashboard website.
Queensland: Logan council area
- Beenleigh: Beenleigh Showgrounds, 1/19 Showgrounds Dr, Beenleigh
- Crestmead: Logan Metro Sports Centre, 357 Browns Plains Road, Crestmead (do not turn left into the Indoor Sports Centre; head to the sports park at the back)
- Daisy Hill: Logan East SES, 26-36 Winnetts Rd, Daisy Hill between between 8:00am and 6:00pm Wednesday, March 5
- Jimboomba: Jimboomba Park, South Street (near the car park)
- Logan Village SES: 1464 Waterford-Tamborine Road, Logan Village between 8:00am and 6:00pm Wednesday, March 5
Read more on the City of Logan Council's dedicated sandbags web page.
See more emergency details on Logan City Council's disaster dashboard website.
Queensland: Moreton Bay council area
- Arana Hills: Arana Hills SES — 2 Pine Hills Drive (off Jinker Track), Arana Hills
- Beachmere: Rogers Street Sports Ground — 57 Rogers Street, Beachmere
- Bongaree: Bribie Island SES — 208 First Avenue, Bribie Island, Bongaree
- Caboolture: Caboolture Council Depot Car Park — 98 Beerburrum Road, Caboolture
- Dayboro: Dayboro Depot — 73 Bradley Street, Dayboro
- Deception Bay: Deception Bay Gem Club car park — 24-52 Old Bay Road, Deception Bay
- Elimbah: Coronation Drive — Opposite the church in the median strip — Coronation Drive, Elimbah
- Margate: Opposite Margate Depot — Jull Street, Margate
- Narangba: Oakey Flat Road — Between Raynbird Road roundabout and Sovereign Drive roundabout — 910 Oakey Flat Road, Narangba
- Petrie: Petrie SES — 3 Woonara Drive, Petrie
- Toorbul: Toorbul and Donnybrook Seniors Club — 1798 Pumicestone Road Toorbul, Toorbul
- Woodford: Woodford Depot — 20 Durundur Street, Woodford
- Woodford: Woodford Memorial Hall (rear car park) — 103 Archer Street, Woodford
Read more on the City of Moreton Bay Council's dedicated sandbags web page.
See more emergency details on the City of Moreton Bay Council's disaster dashboard website.
Queensland: Sunshine Coast council area
- Buderim: Maroochydore-Hinterland Lawn Bowls Club: Corner of Elizabeth Daniels Way and Syd Lingard Drive, Buderim
- Beerwah: SES Depot, 22 Beerwah Parade
- Caloundra: SES Depot Caloundra: Ulm Street South, Caloundra
- Caloundra: Caloundra Rugby Union Football Club (Lighthouse Park): 81 Arthur Street, Caloundra
- Caloundra: Indoor Sports Stadium car park, North Street, Golden Beach
- Coolum: Coolum Cricket Club car park, Ron Cargill Oval Sports Complex, Coolum Beach
- Nambour: Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue
See more emergency details on the Sunshine Coast Council's Disaster Hub website.
Queensland: Redland council area
- Dunwich: Dunwich Depot, 11-37 Mitchell Cresent, Dunwich
- Coochiemudlo Island: Coochiemudlo Island Fire Station, 45 Elizabeth Street
- Lamb Island: Lamb Island Council Shed at rear of car park next to Rural Fire Station, 12 Lucas Drive
- Thornlands: Thornlands Nuway Landscape Supplies, 249 Cleveland Redland Bay Road
- Macleay Island: Macleay Island Council Depot, 22-24 Scarborough Terrace
- Russell Island: Russell Island Council Depot, 6 Cambridge Road
- Redland Bay: Bayview Conservation Park Staging Area, 487-503 German Church Road
- Capalaba: Capalaba Regional Park Car Park, 13-19 Pittwin Road N
See more emergency details at the Redland City Council disaster dashboard website.
NSW: Tweed and Byron cluster
| Murwillumbah Unit | 1 Kyogle Rd, Murwillumbah NSW 2484 |
|---|---|
| Tweed Heads Unit — Banora | 155 Pioneer Parade, Banora Point NSW 2486 |
| Tweed Coast Unit — Pottsville | 6 Centennial Dr, Pottsville NSW 2489 |
| Mullumbimby Unit | 33 Coolamon Scenic Dr, Mullumbimby NSW 2482 |
| Tumbulgum — Tumbulgum Hall | Cnr Riverside Dr and, Government Rd, Tumbulgum NSW 2490 |
| Crabbes Creek | Corner of Crabbes Creek Rd & Bluegum Court |
| Burringbar | Opposite Burringbar Village |
| Ocean Shores | Soccer Field car park (Shara Blvd) for residents of Ocean Shores, New Brighton and South Golden Beach |
| Brunswick Heads | Fawcett Street |
| Byron Bay | Butler Street Reserve |
| Tucabia | Corner of Mookin and Condole Streets (Self-serve). |
| Ocean Shores — Waterlilly Park | 1 Yamble Dr, Ocean Shores NSW 2483 |
| Ocean Shores — Mia Court Playground | Mia Court, South Golden Beach 2483 |
| Casino | 1A East St, Casino NSW 2470 |
Corindi Beach Daylight hours only. | 28 Coral Street , Corindi Beach, NSW 2456 (Self-serve, BYO shovel). |
| South Lismore | Nesbit Park car park (Casino St). |
| South Lismore | Golf Club car park (Barham St). |
Woodburn SES Unit Arriving Tuesday, 4 March) | 3 Uralba St, Woodburn NSW 2472 |
| NSW SES Coraki Unit | 18 Adams Street Corner of Richmond Terrace and Adam (near the bridge) |
| Coutts Crossing | Adjacent to SES building, cnr Kangaroo Creek Rd & Moe McIntosh Way |
Corindi Woolgoolga Unit Open from 0900 Tuesday, daylight hours only. | 28 Coral Street , Corindi Beach, NSW 2456 (Self-serve, BYO shovel). |
| Wooli-Yuraygir Unit | Wooli Road , Wooli, NSW 2462 (Self-serve, bags & shovel available). |
| NSW SES Ulmarra Unit | Corner of Big River Way and Coldstream Street, near RFS (sandbag machine to be positioned soon). |
| Bellingen — NSW SES Urunga Unit) | 7 Orara Street , Urunga, NSW 2455. Behind the Telstra exchange (accessible from Coopers Lane). (BYO shovel) |
| Ballina — Council Depot | Council Depot on Tamarind Drive (opposite Ballina Fair shopping centre), self-serve, |
| Pottsville — NSW SES Tweed Coast Unit | 6 Centennial Drive, behind the RFS Brigade Station (self-help sandbag station). |
| Grafton — NSW SES unit | Irene Street , Grafton, NSW 2460 |
| NSW SES Copmanhurst Unit (Sand pile available). | 15 Prescott St, Copmanhurst NSW 2460 |
| NSW SES Ulmarra Unit — Sand pile available. | 20 Coldstream St, Ulmarra NSW 2462 Corner of Big River Way and Coldstream Street, near RFS |
Dorrigo — Council Depot Self-serve, uncertain demand for sandbags). | Council Depot |
See the NSW SES sandbag locations website for more details.
NSW: Yamba
| NSW SES Yamba Unit | 34 Fairtrader Dr (Next door to unit) |
|---|---|
| Corner of Yamba & Middle Roads | Corner of Yamba & Middle Roads |
| Yamba Boat Ramp (Next to Fishing Co-Op) | Yamba Road, Yamba, NSW 2464 |
See the NSW SES sandbag locations website for more details.
NSW: Maclean Area
| Under the old Harwood Bridge | Harwood side on River Street |
|---|---|
| Maclean Showgrounds | 12 Cameron St, Maclean NSW 2463 |
| Maclean SES Unit (BYO shovels) | 74 River Street, Maclean |
See the NSW SES sandbag locations website for more details.
Where will Tropical Cyclone Alfred hit?
Have you been affected by Cyclone Alfred? We want to hear your story