TC Bianca & Anthony

[kiwigeo]

Stripped a lot of leaf matter off of the trees around us and it's piled up in any and every lee created by building and fence. Still squally rain about and a light breeze.

Stuff the tree leaves...any decent tonewood amongst the carnage????

[Lillian]

It's been a long day waiting to get home and log in. Relieved to hear everyone is okay.

Martin, you aren't going anywhere for a week or three. Why don't you grab and chainsaw and lend a hand? I'm sure you can find something to take home with you. Maybe not backs and sides, but maybe binding stock and head plates.

[J.F. Custom]

Stuff the tree leaves...any decent tonewood amongst the carnage????

Yep, glad to hear you are ok Allen and indeed, even faired well considering the circumstances.

I hope the same can be said for Liam and Alan.

On a more serious note with respect to Martins comment above, I hope someone will be doing some salvage work up there. Gauranteed there will be some decent timber about - last cyclone brought down a bunch of old growth Qld Maple trees that have provided some stunning timber. I'd guess there may be a few more down this time, not to mention other species. I hope it doesn't just get thrown through the council roadside mulcher...

Eyes peeled; that is, when other more pressing priorities are taken care of gents.

Jeremy.

[Allen]

Just got back in from cleaning up my yard and then my boss's 7 acres and his dad's 7 acres. The came out pretty good too. Just really more leaf litter and small branches than anything else. Up the road from them just about the entire length of road running parallel to the highway has had most of the trees either uprooted or torn to pieces. Council is up there now tossing stuff into the mulcher.

[liam_fnq]

We made it through fine. I had to dodge a lot of trees and foliage and a few power lines on the way back to town. The house is fine. I got some sleep. The tone wood and projects are fine. No power though and could be a few days. With power out and the only Internet access by phone I may drop out soon. Feeling very relieved indeed. Damn wind didn't even knock over any of my stinkin palm trees. Thanks for all the kind words And thoughts

[Allen]

Got a cold one for you if you stop by Liam. Good to hear you're unscathed.

[Rod True]

You folks amaze me down there. My guess is this would be total pandemonium here where I'm from, but maybe thats cause we just don't see events like this.....ever.

I'm so glad to hear that you're all fine and dandy.

Now, was there any part of the NE coast that got blasted? Or did the Cyclone slow down enough to just shake things up a bit?

Again, glad you are all OK!

[Allen]

Oh, there was a big area that got blasted all right.

Mission Beach / Tully / Cardwell was ground zero. Word is that 1 in 3 houses in Tully are totally destroyed. Haven't heard about Cardwell, as the last news was they couldn't access it, but that has probably changed now. The town was evacuated as they expected 7 - 8 meter storm surge on top of a high tide. Pretty much puts the entire town under water.

I heard a fellow from Mission beach say that it looks like a nuclear bomb has gone off. Not a single piece of greenery left on tree or ground.

The weather obseratory on Willis Island was knocked out and I heard on the radio (unconfirmed because it was just some reporter that might be just trying for something more sensational) that the island isn't even there anymore.

Here's some photo galleries
http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/#num=3&id=3128594
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/gall ... 037?page=2
http://tools.cairns.com.au/photo_galler ... 5&offset=0

[seeaxe]

Anyone heard from Alan Hamley?

Good to hear the rest of you are OK.

I am interested in the coastal surge, and whether it got anywhere near the predicted levels. We heard 7 metres but I thought that sounded a bit high. Then later someone said it had been revised to 1.6m - still a huge surge on top of the tide.

Auckland recorded its highest tide level ever last weekend (or rather highest tide level ever recorded)- our version of a cyclone caused a 0.7m surge on top of a 3.5m tide. The previous record (3.99m) had stood for about 70 years. Small beer compared to Yasi, though.

I am really impressed and of course delighted that so far at least, no one has been killed. From where I was sitting I thought Premier Bligh handled the situation well again, she came across very well, dont know if you guys agree.

It also puts the recent floods in perspective. So, any truth to the rumour that this was arranged to take your minds off the cricket??

[DarwinStrings]

Sounds like some of you Qlders got it better than others, am still waiting to hear from my uncle in Mission beach via mum, fingers crossed and hope Alan and family are okay. I guess Cairns can thank Huey.

Jim

[seeaxe]

Actually have just seen the pictures of Hinchinbrook - there was obviously a surge there.
Thats pretty impressive

[John Maddison]

... have just seen the pictures of Hinchinbrook ...

The Port Hinchinbrook Marina the day after TC Yasi:

hinchinbrook_marina.jpg (58.73 KiB) Viewed 18432 times

(From ABC News photo gallery).

See also short video clip.

[kiwigeo]

One way to make more room at the Marina!

[seeaxe]

That pic is on the front page of the New Zealand Herald today - I commented that the boats looked like thay had mostly survived the experience, when a friend wondered whether there was another layer of boats underneath!

[Kim]

Anyone heard from Alan Hamley?

BUMP!!

Anyone been in contact with the bluesman??

[Nick]

Anyone heard from Alan Hamley?

BUMP!!

Anyone been in contact with the bluesman??

Hopefully it will be just a case of a lack of voltage to run the 'puter rather than anything major!

[Allen]

Still huge numbers with out power or phone, even around Cairns. Alan and Kerry's place is a brick bunker so it should be ok as long as the roof is still intact.

[liam_fnq]

Power back on. internet on. Beer in Fridge. Yum Cha tonight. Back to bench tomorrow.

From what I hear Cardwell will need to be bulldozed.

There's no sign of a bloke who tried to ride it out in his boat somewhere near where it crossed the coast.

Another bloke died of asphyxiation because he had a genny running in his bunker.

Townsville copped it worse than Cairns. Most of the city without power. Water rationing. Magnetic Island off the townsville harbour copped 7m waves. I imagine Alan is fine but can't get on the forum.

[Clancy]

Glad your with us again liam - and that the beer is cold!

Ummmm, you know that quip about catching everyone's tonewood....
..well....
this is from the ABC Emergency Site

Tropical Cyclone Yasi has weakened into a rain depression, but still carries enough of a punch to have Alice Springs preparing for a potential flood threat.

Looks like I'm going to have to use those gidgee logs to build a raft.
Does gidgee float?
Maybe I can use the 2 OM's I've just fitted the necks to as the 'outriggers'.

Tatjana has to spend a couple of 10hr shifts over the weekend at the ABC studio broadcasting emergency updates.
That'd be downstream, so I guess we can pick her up as the kids & I float by....

Yasi Alice.jpg (61.22 KiB) Viewed 18378 times

[Allen]

Gidgee don't float, so best get some of that spruce out.

Have fun with it Craig. I spent a week stranded in the West McDonalds about 6 1/2 years ago because of torrential rain and floods. It was a brilliant time spent with others in the same predicament, as well as dingo's and brumbies. Pooled food and grog and stories of our adventures. Something we'll always remember and I'd never pass up. Hope your ordeal comes out as well as our.

[Alan Stassforth]

I hope Alan Hamley is okay.

[John Maddison]

I can only find one listing for A. Hamley @ Whitepages Online ... is that his address, Allen?

[Allen]

Yes, that's him John.

[ozziebluesman]

Thanks for all your concern guys! The electricity has just been reconnected about an hour ago. Townsville received high winds felling many trees which created chaos with the electricity infrastructure. Man that was one hell of an experience. Our home was undamaged but next doors front veranda jumped the fence! Heaps of green waiste in the yard! We received 200 ml of rain and the flora and fauna has been devistated.

We are safe. So glad you guys in Cairns are all ok!

Cheers for now

Alan

[jeffhigh]

Glad to Hear you are fine Alan, thanks for letting your friends here Know.