Residents threatened by Tropical Cyclone Alfred now have extra time to prepare, with the category two system expected to cross the Australian coast from Friday afternoon.
The centre of the cyclone is expected to hit between Maroochydore and Coolangatta in southeast Queensland but wild weather has already smashed the coast from Coolangatta down to Ballina in NSW.
About 20,000 properties in the Brisbane area face flooding and communities under threat are expected to come to a near standstill for days.
Schools, public transport, many shops, major roads and Gold Coast airport are closed, with elective surgeries also put on hold but emergency departments open.
Qantas has cancelled several flights, Carnival Luminosa’s three-day cruise has been called off and Greyhound bus services from Brisbane have been axed.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall about 4pm on Friday 7 March after slowing down, with the system located about 300 kilometres east of the Gold Coast.
Sea captain Brad Delange and his wife pulled out all stops as the couple brace for wild weather to lash southeast Queensland.
Mr Delange is bunkering down at his Cleveland home, tapping into his nautical knowledge that has taken him from the high seas to a stint on reality TV show, Below Deck.
“The preparations are to keep the wife happy,” he told AAP.
The brutal effects will be felt from Double Island Point in Queensland down to Grafton in northern NSW.
Mr Delange has left nothing to chance, bolstering his home with sandbags, extra water tanks and power generators after securing the roof.
“I’m a sea captain, so we’re used to these kind of things,” he said.
“It’s always preparation, (ensuring) nothing can fly around.”
He expects some inundation with tidal surges brought by Alfred along with heavy rain and destructive winds of up to 155km/h.
“It’s like when you’re at sea, you have to always evaluate your heights,” he said.
“The height of this house is three metres. At the moment, the estimated tidal surge is 2.4m.
“If it’s very, very extreme… (it is) still nowhere near the top of the house but the water will be in the yard.”
Residents in high-risk areas have been urged to stay with family and friends or head to evacuation centres, while others should stay home as millions brace for the first cyclone to hit the state’s southeast since 1974.
“When events like this happen, people realise truly what’s important in life – you are what’s important in life,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.
“Of course, you should do all the preparation to protect your property… but humans are worth more than any material possession.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns also urged Northern Rivers residents to prepare, just three years after flooding devastated the region, saying Thursday was the “day to act” and to avoid floodwaters.
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