Health warning issued as Cyclone intensifies
EXTREME WEATHER
Health and weather experts are encouraging residents of the Far North Tropical Coast to prepare extreme weather in the coming days.
Manager of the Extreme Weather Desk at the Bureau of Meteorology, James Taylor, said Tropical Cyclone Owen is expected to hit the east coast by Friday and will be fed by a low pressure system in the south of the country.
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"Heavy rainfall potential exists for much of coastal Queensland during the weekend, with Tropical Cyclone Owen forecast to move southward," Mr Taylor said.
"This [low pressure] system has the potential to draw moisture southward from Tropical Cyclone Owen, creating a large cloudband with associated severe thunderstorms along much of the east of the continent.”
In the face of such extreme weather, the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service are urging everyone to prepare for the cyclone to hit.
Jason Black, Acting Director of Pharmacy at the Cairns Hospital, said patients should be stocking up on the medications they need now to avoid being caught out.
“Residents should stock up on medication, especially prescription medicines, that you may need over the next few days,” he said.
“Early preparation means people can remain at home, avoiding unnecessary travel on flooded roads.”
Residents should visit getready.qld.gov.au or www.dashboard.douglas.qld.gov.au for more information on how to prepare for extreme weather.
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