Source : Perth Now news
Carnarvon is preparing for isolation as dangerous flooding persists in the aftermath of cyclone Narelle, but Premier Roger Cook has urged would-be Easter travellers not to cancel any holiday plans just yet.
Gascoyne River levels at Nine Mile Bridge are hovering around 6.1m, but are expected to rise to almost 6.5m by Monday afternoon.
It follows river levels reaching a peak of 8.1m at Fishy Pool, further upstream, late on Sunday afternoon.
Emergency services say moderate flooding is possible, with people east of Boundary Road “highly likely” to be affected and possibly inundated by the rising floodwaters.
An evacuation site at Carnarvon PCYC remains open for those fleeing the torrent of water headed their way.
The Federal Government on Monday said it was opening its disaster relief funding to West Australians, as they had with Queensland and the Northern Territory.
As clean-up efforts begin amid the rapidly changing flood situation, the Premier urged people not to cancel their holiday plans, as regional tourism operators need the support more than ever.
“Please, everyone, don’t cancel your holidays. Phone your tourism operator, your hotel, your accommodation provider. See how they’re feeling . . . if you have plans and they can go ahead, please take the opportunity to go and spend your tourism dollars in regional WA,” Mr Cook said.
“It’s an important time of the year for them. It’s time that we all support each other, and, importantly, support our local tourism operators.”
The Premier’s encouragement comes as several major roads remain closed, with the full extent of the damage unknown until floodwaters recede.
Learmonth Airport in Exmouth also suffered extensive damage.
Mr Cook’s plea comes despite current advice from emergency services urging people to reconsider their travel plans.
Mr Cook will visit Exmouth to survey the “trail of destruction” left by Narelle on Monday afternoon, alongside Emergency Services Minister Paula Papalia and Commissioner Darren Klemm, where he will speak to locals at a town hall meeting.
“In the meantime, I want residents to know that we have your back. We will do everything we can to support you. We know it’s tough up there,” he said.
“Mercifully, we’ve had no reports of injury or death, but there is a trail of destruction and significant property damage, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure that you get back on your feet.”
He also urged road users to abide road closures following a rescue early Sunday morning.
“If you’re advised by signage or by officials that you should not utilise a piece of road — do not,” he said.
In today’s episode, an Exmouth local describes the devastating impact of Tropical Cyclone Narelle, while further south in Carnarvon residents brace for impact
“It can be dangerous to you. It can be dangerous to your family. It could be dangerous to emergency workers that may be called upon to assist you, so please just heed all the instructions.”
Exmouth residents can now return to the area with caution, as a DFES Incident Management Team sets up shop to respond to community requests for assistance.
The Federal Government’s disaster relief funding will be available to residents in the shires of Exmouth, Carnarvon and Shark Bay, including emergency assistance for those in any immediate need like replacing essential household items or minor repairs.
“Residents will also have access to wellbeing services, and we stand ready to assist further, following additional impact assessments,” Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said.
“The impacts of ex-tropical cyclone Narelle have been incredibly destructive across Australia’s north and west coasts, and we’ll continue to work closely with all state and territory governments as we move through response to the recovery phase.”
Repairs are underway on damaged water infrastructure, as the Water Corporation advised residents in Exmouth and Onslow to avoid non‑essential water use, including reticulation, washing machines, hosing down pavements, and showers longer than four minutes.
A 22-strong Storm and Floodwater SES team from Queensland has also been deployed to the region to assist with damage repair.
“Our priority today is assessing damage in impacted communities and supporting people severely affected by destructive winds and heavy rainfall,” DFES said.
To stay up to date with the latest flood warnings, visit EmergencyWA online.
For more information on recovery efforts, including where to get help, visit DFES’ cyclone Narelle recovery efforts page online.
