Yasi Report helps plan for future

Water levels from Cyclone Yasi would have peaked up to three metres higher and wreaked even more damage between Townsville and Cairns if the storm had crossed the coast just four hours earlier, according to a new State Government report released today.

Acting Science, IT, Innovation and the Arts Minister David Crisafulli said the information could be used to better prepare Northern communities in the future.

“Cyclone Yasi gave us a belting, but it could have been far worse,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“You can only imagine the carnage if Yasi had crossed the coast at high tide.”

The largest surges were recorded south of Yasi’s path near Cardwell, where water levels more than five metres high swept boats and debris two blocks inland.

The debris line at Saunders Beach, 18 kilometres north of Townsville, suggested a surge of similar height.

“The Townsville wave buoy recorded 9.6 metre waves about five hours before Yasi crossed the coast,” he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology and Emergency Management Queensland used real-time data from 25 storm tide gauges and 14 wave measuring buoys strategically placed along the coast to make the big calls about when to evacuate and where to go.

“We’ve had other big storms but never before did we have the science to collect data while the storm was happening,” he said.

“We know that cyclones are unpredictable, but we’ll be able to make better plans for the future now that the equipment is in place to help us learn more.”

The information in the report could help councils and emergency services.

 “It’s vital that we’re armed with the latest storm surge information so we can evacuate residents, and protect ports and council assets in the danger zones the next time we’re hit,” he said.

“It will also help councils plan future developments and identify erosion prone areas.”

A copy of Tropical Cyclone Yasi 2011: Post cyclone coastal field investigation is available at http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/coastal/monitoring/tropical_cyclone_yasi.html

[ENDS] 19 December 2012

Media contact: Andrew Longmire 0418 216 627