Former City of Greater Geelong councilor Kylie Gryzbek and her husband have been told to seek immediate shelter as the advancing Cyclone Jasper threatens their dream tropical holiday.
Kylie and Paul Gryzbek are vacationing in Cairns, in the middle of the anticipated impact zone when the storm crosses the coast late on Tuesday.
Jasper is currently rated as a category 2 storm and is expected to bring heavy rain, 140km/h winds and surging tidea.
However experts say the cell has slowed as it approaches the Australian coast, and could gain strength before crossing into North Queendsland.
Some parts of Cairns and Port Douglas have been advised to evacuate, with those who elect to stay told to stock up on supplies and be prepared to spend days without electricity.
Ms Gryzbek, who served on Geelong Council for six years before stepping down in June, posted video to Tiktok showing her husband following advice to throw outdoor furniture into the pool at their Trinity Beach resort.
Her posts also showed the couple lining up to collect sandbags from the local tip, and taping up the windows of their villa.
Ms Gryzbek, who lives in Lara, said she was posting because she wanted to share the experience with friends and family.
“We’ve never been through this before so we thought we would take you on our journey as we prep for the cyclone,” the ex-councillor wrote.
Meteorologists said people in the affected area should be prepared for daily rainfall of up to 500 millimetres.
Heavy rain is expected from Cape Flattery in the state’s north to Cardwell including Cairns, Port Douglas and Innisfail. A storm surge warning is in effect for Cairns, while emergency warnings are in place for the communities of Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.
One media outlet is even warning of the possibility of crocodiles getting into Cairns’ waterways and drains, as happened during the Queensland floods of 2012-22.
