We’re not out of the woods yet
Alfred has weakened significantly, but risks still remain
Update 10.15am Sunday, March 9:
Overnight winds and rain have caused power outages for many, plus structural damage and flooding in some parts of South East Queensland and northern New South Wales. At least one person has died. The situation remains serious. Please stay in place indoors unless it’s absolutely necessary to go somewhere else. Remember, what may seem like a fun idea for you could put yourself, your friends and family, and rescuers in a life-threatening situation. If your devices work, please use them to check up on your friends, neighbours and family. As a community, we are strong.
P.S. Some damage to trees around me, but I am safe and well and among the lucky ones who still have power and an internet connection. I’ll post updates on Threads and other social media when I can.
As I write, around 7am on Saturday, March 8, Alfred is an ex-cyclone. It has ceased to be. It is now a tropical low. But that doesn’t mean we should all race out into the streets and frolic in the puddles.
Hundreds of thousands of households are without power, surf conditions remain treacherous and the risk of flooding in some places remains high. Wind gusts may still bring dower trees and power lines, so there remains a clear and present danger.
Many will be thinking that Brisbane dodged a bullet. Others, of a more conspiratorial bent, might be thinking it was all a bit overbaked by our politicians and the media in the first place.
If you’re in the latter category, you are wrong. The authorities were right to raise alarm levels, and we need to continue to act responsibly, keep safe and support each other.
(11.20am update: As expected, some online communities are abuzz with ridiculous theories. It’s as if they are disappointed it wasn’t worse.)
In an emergency, dial 000 for police, fire brigade and ambulance
For the SES, call 132 500. For fallen power lines, 131 962.
Online, click here for official local information.
This is meant to be a short update, but I do want to follow up on the concerns I expressed a few days ago about the media coverage of the cyclone.
I’m happy to report that as Alfred got closer, the reporting got mostly better.
I liked the coverage on both Nine (where Today and the Friday 6pm bulletin stood out) and Seven, with particular plaudits to Seven’s Friday night special hosted by Michael Usher and Katrina Blowers (and a team including regular Brisbane news anchor Max Futcher, who was copping the worst of the weather at Surfers Paradise).
The ABC did its usual solid job on TV and radio (with Spencer Howson on air as I write), and 4BC sounded slick and informative overnight and on Saturday morning.
One curious thing: Paul Burt, whose Step Outside radio show only began on 4BC last weekend, was a part of Seven’s television coverage on Weekend Sunrise, while regular weekday Breakfast host Peter Fegan was pulling a sixth shift on 4BC. While it makes perfect sense to have the A team on air during an emergency, it will interrupt any momentum Burt’s show may have begun to build.
On the brighter side: plaudits to the Gold Coast apartment dweller who twigged that they were in frame during Nine News last night and did a dance in the background while Garry Youngberry presented the weather. That explains the picture at the top of this page.