Residents of Broome and Derby have been told to prepare now as a cyclone set to hit the Kimberley coastline develops.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a tropical low — currently named 08U — could turn into a category two storm at its peak and make landfall on Tuesday.
It is currently 620km north west of Broome and moving south before being expected to turn towards the coastline from Monday afternoon.
The storm is forecast to reach category two by early Tuesday morning, before returning to a category one as it makes landfall in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to the Bureau, the likely cyclone-to-be will bring damaging winds.
Camera IconThe Department of Fire and Emergency put out an advice warning on Sunday afternoon, urging residents from Broome to Cockatoo Island to stay informed. Credit: Supplied
“Gales with damaging wind gusts to 90 km/h are possible for the watch area during Tuesday,” the warning read.
“Destructive wind gusts are possible about the coastal fringe north of Broome to Cape Leveque late Tuesday, if the system moves faster than forecast.
“Widespread moderate to locally heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is possible for the watch area from Tuesday.
“Tides will be higher than normal as 08U approaches the west Kimberley Coast.”
The Department of Fire and Emergency put out an advice warning on Sunday afternoon, urging residents from Broome to Cockatoo Island to stay informed.
“Although there is no immediate danger you need to start preparing for dangerous weather and keep up to date,” the warning read.
“Review your plan and home maintenance, and make sure everyone in your household knows what to do. If you do not have a plan, make one now on Emergency WA or in the Emergency WA app.
“Check your emergency kit has key items like a first aid kit and an AM/FM radio that runs off batteries.
“Know the cyclone warning system and the steps that must be taken for each level.”
The Waringarri Crows have booked their ticket to the East Kimberley Football League grand final after defeating the Port Wyndham Crocs in a nail-biter at the weekend.
Playing under lights at Clarrie Cassidy Oval on Friday night, the Crows edged out the Crocs by just seven points in a tense preliminary final that see-sawed from the first bounce to the final siren.
The Crows exploded out of the blocks, kicking four goals to two in the opening term to open up a 15-point lead at quarter-time, 4.5 (29) to 2.2 (14).
But Port Wyndham weren’t about to roll over, clawing back into the contest in the second quarter and narrowing the gap to nine-points at the main break.
The third quarter was an arm wrestle, with both sides matching each other goal-for-goal to head into the final term locked at 59 apiece.
With the season on the line, the Crocs surged briefly but wasted opportunities in front of goal proved costly.
The Crows steadied late, converting better under pressure to seal the win and punch their ticket to the decider, 11.14 (80) to 10.13 (73).
The Crows will now go on to face the Ord River Magpies in the grand final set for August 30 down at Kununurra Oval at 5pm.
In the women’s competition, the Ord River Magpies flexed their muscles on Friday night, winning their spot in the East Kimberley Football League grand final with a thumping victory over the Kununurra Demons.
Playing at the Kununurra Showgrounds on Saturday afternoon, the Magpies were in complete control from the outset, cruising to an 65-point victory, 11.6 (72) to 1.1 (7).
The Demons managed just a single goal for the evening as the Magpies dominated across every line, piling on 11 majors to one and keeping the scoreboard ticking over with ruthless efficiency.
Now the Magpies are set to face the Waringarri Crows at the EKFL grand final set for August 30 at Kununurra Oval from 2.30pm.
“I adopted my first kitten, now an 8-year-old cat, at a PetSmart adoption event in June 2013.
I was struggling with depression and trying to push my way through grad school and Lancelot has been helping me with his affection from our union.”
“Fast forward a few more years and I once again turned toward kittens as a way to help me with my mental health. In 2018, I was struggling with another depressive spell but this time turned to volunteering with APA!. I started off in the ringworm cattery before figuring out how to volunteer in the neonatal nursery. I really wanted to focus on the nurturing of kittens to mirror self-care.”
For many of us, self-care and mental health came into focus during the Coronavirus Pandemic, and for us Texans, during Winter Storm Uri. When Winter Storm Uri hit Texas in mid-February this year, it leftover four million people out of power and water for days. Temperatures got down to historically low single digits, and there was widespread loss of internet and cell phone reception.
In our work, lives are on the line every day. When disasters like Uri hit, it takes a village to ensure no companions’ lives are lost — no matter the circumstances. Luckily, we have people like Kimberley on our side.
“I was on my second kitten of the year when Winter Storm Uri hit,” said Kimberley. “I had an adorable 7-week old orange kitten named Finn when I lost electricity.
For three days straight he spent the majority of the time in bed with me curled up next to my chest while I was under five blankets. My older cats were on top of the blankets surrounding us. No heating pad or warm gruel during this storm. I was totally iced in.”
“I went to my car a few times in an attempt to charge my phone and had the heat on to try to keep him warmer. Prior to my in-laws taking me and all four felines in where they had electricity, I did fear he was starting to fade on me.”
Neonates, kittens from birth to six weeks of age, are often bottle-fed every few hours and often kept on heating pads during normal temperatures. Caring for Finn during Winter Storm Uri quickly became a life-or-death situation.
To perk him up, Kimberley knew she had to make warm sugar water for him to drink. But with no electricity and no running water, this wasn’t going to be easy. Luckily, Kimberley saved some clean water prior to the boiling order and was able to make the concoction with room temperature water — though room temperature was about 26 degrees.
“It was terrifying trying to keep him warm and not suffocate him as he burrowed up against my chest, sometimes inside my jacket after coming out to eat or use the litter box,” said Kimberley. “He was a trooper though.”
Despite being without power for 48 hours and without water for 72 hours, our shelter remained operational. We mobilized to place 90 percent of our population in foster homes, and our fosters were more vital than ever. Nothing stopped our teams from saving lives and placing pets in forever homes.
“I didn’t even have a halfway charged phone prior to losing power and had spotty signals at best. Yet the adoption team still managed to send me adoption requests, despite the challenges we all faced in Austin. I recall replying to two potential adopters when I had maybe 5 percent battery and trying to set up future Zoom meet and greets.” said Kimberley. “In the end, Finn did go to one of those potential adopters.”
“It was a horrible situation, but I can assure you the off-site volunteers and all of us fosters were doing our best to keep the animals alive and continuing our darndest to further Austin’s goal of No Kill. We did our best to keep the animals alive with what little resources we had without electricity.”
“At this point, I’ve taken in 64 kittens in my four kitten seasons. Of the 21 I’ve had so far this season, 4 have been through the P.A.S.S. program. The majority of my kittens have had ringworm and I do my best to inform people that ringworm is not a reason to reject an otherwise healthy animal. I hope to continue saving kittens and adding joy to other people’s lives with my fosters.”
“I truly consider myself a social worker for both humans and cats.”
Without lifesavers and advocates like Kimberley, APA! companions may have been lost during the winter storm. We need you to join Kimberley to fight for No Kill to stay in Austin so pets like Finn and all of Kimberley’s kitties get the same chances as healthy pets by making a gift today.
With our No Kill future at risk more now than ever before, we need your help TWICE as much to keep Austin No Kill. Give today and double your impact for companions in need.
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