Cyclone Yasi - closing evac centres possibly distressing

[Oblena]

I have just seen on the news that people are being turned away from evac centres cos they are full. Does that mean there is not enough?

What happens to these people if all the centres are full?

Do they just get sent home? Why can't they just come in to be safe? I am sorry if I am just really stupid, but I am really worried about these people ( I know the news loves to sensationalise this stuff) but surely they have to morally let people in?

[Guest1234]

I have no idea where the people would go, maybe friends or family?
Sadly though I think there is such a thing as too full, and I'm pretty sure they would be packed pretty tight as it is.

It is so scary I really feel for those in queensland.

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[IndigoJ]

They are moved by bus to another centre. People have been encouraged to stay in their own homes.

However there is only ONE category 5 rated building in the Cassowary Coast region (Cardwell to just north of Innisfail)

[Oblena]

Ok I feel better that they are taken somewhere else - how scary for these people.

Are the homes strong enough? Is it a good idea to encourage staying at home? or is that just to save the room?

[Pina Colada]

People in general are going to evacuation centres because of the storm surge (which lets not forget causes more fatalities in hurricanes then the wind), not because of the wind.

And yes, unless they are in direct danger of storm surge they are better off staying at home, or going to homes of family or friends.

Not all evacuation centres are rated to Category 5. In fact, I would say few are, particularly in the Cassowary Coast and the Tablelands Regions.

It has been made clear that these evac centres are to escape storm surge and to be used as a last resort, and are not guaranteed to be safe from destructive winds.

I have seen some people on TV that were interviewed in the evac centres, and they weren't at risk of storm surge, but were there 'just in case' which while I can understand the fear, is not really what the evac centres are for and is probably contributing to over crowding.

[share a book]

We were told to evacuate the city on Monday, it was due to get windy and rainy on the Wednesday late in the afternoon and set to cross the coast around midnight. I think people were given plenty of time to secure their homes or flee to a different location if their homes weren't safe enough. The only reason I left my house is because we were going to be cut off from floods, possibly without power and water and I just kept thinking what if we get sick??? So we left town and our house is still without power and water and I have no idea the state of it at this stage but apparently I have a huge clean up job to do

FYI: All houses built after 1975 are built to category 5 cyclone ratings so these homes most definately are strong enough.