Whitsunday Regional Council wishes to advise residents that the following services are open and available, to our best knowledge, as of today:

• Water - Water in Bowen is now working and coming from Council Bores however some areas of Bowen have limited supply. There are currently crews on the ground making repairs to the network, the bores are chlorinated and we’re working to bring the water treatment plant back online. A boil water alert has gone out reminding residents not to drink straight from the tap, and to boil water until further advised.

• Sewerage - Sewerage networks are currently working in Bowen with an Ergon provided generator powering the Sewerage Treatment Plant and pump stations.

• Power - Council is working with Ergon Energy to reestablish as soon as possible. Ergon will be conducting a rapid damage assessment today, with extra Ergon crews travelling to the Whitsunday region. Ergon’s priorities will be firstly public safety issues including fallen power lines, supplying hospitals and medical centres, then shopping centres.

• Food - Woolworths Bowen and IGA open

• Fuel - Puma Rio Don, Caltex Bruce Highway and Queens Beach Fiveways are open

• Cash - Queensland Country Credit Union has opened a pop up shop from 10-2 today at Floral Notes on Herbert Street – members only at this stage.

• Waste - Bowen Landfill is open

• Open Pharmacies - Bowen Healthcare Pharmacy (working on reduced hours)

If you are concerned about relatives who require medication, please advise your family members that the below pharmacies are now open for medication.

For those that require power to run medical devices such as home oxygen, please make your way to friends or family with generators or the closest hospital.

Financial welfare assistance: 1800 173 349 or https://www.qld.gov.au/

To hear the latest up-to-date information and official advice, listen to your local radio stations and follow the Whitsunday Disaster & Emergency Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/WhitsundayDisasterandEmergencyInformation/

Important phone numbers:

If you have a life threatening emergency, please call 000 immediately.

If you require SES assistance, please call 132 500. The SES’s priority after the event will be providing access to residents (eg. Clearing trees from driveways etc.)

If you need to contact the Whitsunday Disaster Coordination Centre, please call 1300 972 006 and provide information as requested by the telephone operator.

Red Cross has now opened Register.Find.Reunite. and is urging people that may be affected by Cyclone Debbie to get in touch with their families and friends. Please visit www.redcross.org.au to register, or look for someone.