Aussie Finch Forum

Just wondering if you made it through the cyclone ok?

The good news is that all the birds and people at my place and Mums made it through the 1st 24hrs fine. Mum and I both lost 1 bird each in the 2nd 24hrs. One Cock Zeb for me one hen budgie for Mum. But we had no power from 8.30PM Sunday 11th to 4PM Wednesday 14th.
However we are lots better off than Kalbarri and Northampton. Who are still without power. 100 power poles down between us and Northampton (less than an hours drive in normal situations. Serious maintenance issue?
And the number of rooves off in Kalbarri makes me wonder about how many builders do not tye rooves down in compliance with regulations.

Hope things get better for all who have suffered the effects of the cyclone Finchbreeder

Stay safe Finchbreeder

Been able to confirm that the cousins who farm between Kalbarri and Northampton - right under the worst of it - got through OK - but not how much damage they sustained. Not generally a fan of mobile phones - but the younger generation kept in touch and advised everyone how everyone else was going. Good on the young ones.
Accept the ratbags who took the opportunity to fencehop and break into local businesses, cars and houses while the power to burgular alarms was down.

Good to hear you, family and pets are ok, apart from a couple of birds )) (my keyboard is stuffed otherwise I would do the smiley face)

Rooves only have to meet cyclone requirements if the property is above a certain latitude. Pretty much in the northern half of the country. South of that and they don't need to meet any special requirements.

As far as Kalbarri goes, a lot of the places that lost rooves there were built in the 60s and had asbestos roofing. Kalbarri is now in lock down and nobody is meant to be going outside without safety equipment (asbestos suit and mask). Apparently there is lots of asbestos roofing that is spread all over the town and specialist clean up crews are trying to clean it up.

Standard building tie down regs are not always complied with. Just ask any electrician who climbs through rooves regularly.
Still haven't heard how the Bro in law who lives between us and Mullewa went.

Glad to hear you're doing okay Finchbreeder

Those of us in town now have power - some as little as 50kms from the GPO still do not. A friend with a big farm (13 sheds down to 6 still standing) 40 yrs worth of trees half gone. Got hold of the Sis in law ditto house OK masses of trees and fences down. Both or these have to fix fences fast to keep the sheep off the main Geraldton to Mullewa road. Hope it is another 30yrs before we get a cyclone over us.

Glad you got through it. Was bad enough here in NSW with bad winds let alone what you guys copped.