Cyclone Ului - After the Storm

Above: Sunday 21 March 2010 - Boats beached at Shute Harbour

We experienced the eye of Cyclone Ului for about an hour here in Cannonvale, a suburb next to Airlie Beach.

above: Shute Harbour Road, Shute Harbour

About 2 minutes into the eye, it was dead quiet, until a neighbour yelled out "Coo-eee" . . . a few coo-ees were returned from around the pitch darkness. Some were from a fair bit down the valley.

Above: Sunday 21 March 2010 - Surfers at Airlie Beach

It's an incident like that which I will remember first before the roaring winds, the stinging rain, the shaking windows and doors, 64 hours without power, phone or internet.

Above: Sunday 21 March 2010 - Boats washed up in Shute Harbour near Jillys

I will remember the free barbeques being set up in the Airlie Beach carpark for hungry backpackers, not that hungry backpackers were stalking the rears of supermarkets, looking for 'thrown out' spoilt food.

above: Sunday 21 March 2010 - Macarthur Drvie, Cannonvale

I will remember the rescue of the person from the creek behind Magnums because of the bravery of those who went out in that wild weather to assist someone, even though he fell in the creek while running away from security personel. I would like to thank the emergency personel for all the brave, hard work during this episode.

Above: Sunday 21 March 2010 - Hungry Jacks, Cannonvale

As at 6pm Tuesday 23 March 2010:

POWER Shute Harbour & Eungella may not have power restored until later this week (Fri 25 Mar 2010).
At this point in time. Jubilee Pocket does not have power.

WATER Was talk yesterday (Mon 22 Mar 2010) of water running out in Airlie Beach, but power was returned to the water pumps.

GOVERNMENT Premier has asked people not to cancel their Easter trip to the Whitsundays.