Whitsunday Regional Council’s Disaster Management Coordinator, Scott Tellegen, said that with
two months remaining of the cyclone season, being without power is a possibility if a cyclonestrikes the Whitsunday Region.

“Category 5 Cyclone Marcia which hit Yeppoon and Rockhampton in 2015 caused extended
power outages to over 60,000 electricity customers,” Mr Tellegen said.

“Over 20,000 customers were still without power six days after Cyclone Marcia crossed the coast, in a week where average temperatures were above 35 degrees,” he said.

“Residents of the Whitsunday Region will remember in 2010 when the Category 3 system Cyclone Ului caused widespread power outages of around three days and over one week in some areas,” he said.

“Purchasing a generator is an excellent step towards cyclone preparedness and will enable atemporary power supply to homes until the mains power is restored.”

“A changeover switch can be installed into dwellings by a licensed electrician to allow generators
to be safely connected directly into the dwelling.”

“Residents who have the appropriate generator setup will significantly increase their comfort andability to cope following a disaster event.”

Residents should also ensure they have adequate fuel to run the generator and car before a
cyclone hits.

“The more people in the community who are self-sufficient and have generators will mean lessstress on emergency services during the recovery phase. This will allow the community to get
back on its feet sooner.”

The Bureau of Meteorology is currently monitoring a low in the Coral Sea. The low is expectedto remain well offshore and does not pose an immediate threat to the Queensland coast. For
updates please visit

To keep up to date with information relating to current disaster events, residents are encouraged to ‘Like’ the Whitsunday Disaster and Emergency Information Facebook page, which will provide a direct link to information from the Whitsunday Disaster Management Group or;

Subscribe to Emergency Alerts on Council’s website by clicking on Notify Me at the top of thehomepage and checking the relevant tick box.

< ENDS >

Follow Whitsunday Regional Council on Facebook and LinkedIn

For media enquiries, contact:
Lisa Maher, Communications OfficerPhone: 07 4945 0204, 0408 713 243 or Email: lisa.maher@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au