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Cyclone Seroja: Premier Mark McGowan warns storm will be ‘like nothing we have seen in decades’

Charlotte Elton and Hayley SorensonThe West Australian
VideoWinds pick up in Coral Bay as cyclone approaches

Premier Mark McGowan has warned that tropical cyclone Seroja is “like nothing we have seen in decades” - predicting “very serious” damage to communities across WA.

Mr McGowan’s dire prediction comes after the dangerous weather system was upgraded to a category three, and the cyclone red alert was extended further south of the Midwest Gascoyne to include Northampton, Port Gregory, and Horrocks.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said residents living in the red alert zone were “in danger and need to act immediately,” — a warning the Premier echoed.

“Tropical cyclone Seroja is like nothing we have seen before in decades,” he warned.

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“This is a very large storm that is posing a very serious threat lives and homes are at risk. We expect significant damage.

“I urge everyone to take this situation seriously listen to the authorities, and act accordingly.”

Premier Mark McGowan updates the media on tropical cyclone Seroja, flanked by DFES commissioner Darren Klemm, left and police commissioner Chris Dawson.
Camera IconPremier Mark McGowan updates the media on tropical cyclone Seroja, flanked by DFES commissioner Darren Klemm, left and police commissioner Chris Dawson. Credit: Nic Ellis/The West Australian

Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm urged people in the red alert area to abide by advice given by authorities.

“The message now is very clear, you cannot go outside your home, you cannot go outside the evacuation centre that you would be in,” he said.

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson urged people to take care around fallen power lines and linked the electrocution death of a man in Coral Bay yesterday to the storm.

“Regrettably, we have had one person lose their life Coral Bay yesterday. A 38-year-old man was found dead near a pole that had fallen over,” he said.

“We do not want any more lives lost in this situation.”

Tropical cyclone Seroja blowing trees in Coral Bay.
Camera IconTropical cyclone Seroja blowing trees in Coral Bay.

Mr McGowan urged West Australians to avoid so-called “cyclone parties” - events where people bunker down together and consume large amounts of alcohol.

“I just urge people not to do that and to take every precaution,” he said.

"Cyclones are very unpredictable, you don't know what's going to happen. And they do kill people.”

“You need to do everything you can to keep yourself and your family safe.”

Still from a video of the storm in Carnarvon.
Camera IconStill from a video of the storm in Carnarvon. Credit: Janice Baird/Supplied

The storm is currently a Category 3 system and is expected to make landfall this evening somewhere between Kalbarri and Geraldton. Wind gusts of up to 250km/h are forecast.

James Ashley from the Bureau of Meteorology warned that the cyclone was moving “very quickly,” – at 50km per hour, increasing the risk of destructive flash flooding.

“This is an unusual and rare event for the state,” he said.

“Cyclone impact on the central part of the West Coast is not common and hasn't happened for decades.

“So it poses an enhanced risk for communities that aren't familiar with this type of weather.

Sienna Luff, 15, helps tape up windows at her Bluff Point home.
Camera IconSienna Luff, 15, helps tape up windows at her Bluff Point home. Credit: Kate Campbell

DFES has advised people stay inside and shelter in the strongest, safest part of their house — or an evacuation centre.

Residents in the red alert zone should keep their emergency kits near them, stay away from doors and windows, keep them closed and stay indoors until the “all clear” is given by authorities.

Bluff Point resident Andy White checks his roofs and gutters ahead of Cyclone Seroja.
Camera IconBluff Point resident Andy White checks his roofs and gutters ahead of Cyclone Seroja. Credit: Geoff Vivian/The Geraldton Guardian

The Department of Communities has set up three evacuation centres at the the Irwin Recreation Centre in Port Denison, the Carnarvon Civic Centre and at the Shark Bay Recreation Centre in Denham.

Mr McGowan promised that money would be made available to help communities rebuild in the aftermath of the cyclone.

“We do have the arrangements that will kick in after this … the disaster relief funding arrangements that will kick in, all of that work is being done currently,” he promised.

People heading home.
Camera IconPeople heading home. Credit: Instagram/offroadadventureswa

Shire of Northampton deputy president Shane Krakouer is based in Kalbarri and said tourists had already cleared out of caravan parks and residents were busy securing their homes.

“Everyone is doing the right thing,” Mr Krakouer said.

A person waits to get evacuated from the Abrolhos Islands
Camera IconA person waits to get evacuated from the Abrolhos Islands Credit: Brodie Maddren/Facebook

Mr Krakouer said he had never experienced a weather event of this magnitude in Kalbarri before.

“We have never had something like this while I have been here,” he said.

A long queue at the IGA supermarket in the Geraldton suburb of Glenfield as the regional city went into a yellow alert for Tropical Cyclone Seroja.
Camera IconA long queue at the IGA supermarket in the Geraldton suburb of Glenfield as the regional city went into a yellow alert for Tropical Cyclone Seroja. Credit: Geraldton Guardian

“In strong winds we have lost roofs off houses, lost patios but nothing like this.

“People are nervy because they don’t know what is going to happen.

“No one knows what is going to happen, no one can say what is going to happen.”

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