“Carnage” is how Airlie Beach resident Adrian Pelt is describing the scene outside his home at the moment.
The region’s largest owner-operated yacht charter business owner said the storm was still building and winds were close to 200kmh as the full effect of TC Debbie began to be felt.
Communicating with his wife Suzette in Tasmania, Adrian described the sound of the cyclone as “like a freight train”.
Suzette said reports from friends overlooking the waterfront were that it was looking like high tide at 8am, even though the 3.74m tide is expected to peak at 10.40am.
The couple have cyclone nets strung up the full length of their home to catch flying debris, and Suzette said the latest news was that big trees were snapping and branches flying everywhere.
“Branches are crashing on the roof, and there are many more hours to go,” she said.
Adrian and Suzette have had just shy of 40 years of experience with hurricanes and cyclones, including two direct hits and multiple times in warning zones.
They include several in the Caribbean, including sailing south towards Venezuela as fast as possible to get away from Hurricane David, a category 5 storm that struck in 1979.
”It doesn’t get any easier,” Suzette said.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
