Tropical Cyclone Marcia, originally predicted as a category 1 system, rapidly escalated to a category 5, taking Queensland residents by surprise. At Tropical Cyclone Marcia’s peak it sustained winds at 205 km/h, and featured a very well defined 35 kilometre eye. This presented challenges for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) to both prepare and respond to this rare and dangerous event. QFES deployed swift water rescue crews, State Emergency Service (SES) teams and support personnel to local government in order to assist with storm preparations and response.

Making landfall early on a Friday morning north of Yeppoon, locals quickly headed for shelter where they could. Those without an appropriate home to seek refuge in turned towards the recently constructed cyclone shelters, With the Yeppoon Cyclone Shelter operating for the first time under intense conditions. More than 800 people bunkered down in the shelter, within the grounds of the Yeppoon State High School. The shelter is the most southerly located cyclone shelter in Queensland..  

Having supported the establishment, training and coordination of the Cyclone Shelter program, QFES were keen to identify lessons to improve the preparedness and operations of all cyclone shelters across Queensland.

This presentation will briefly discuss the rapid onset of Tropical Cyclone Marcia, and focus on the development of the Cyclone Shelter program capability and its operational challenges during Tropical Cyclone Marcia.