š“65. Cyclones


Today, weāre talking about Cyclone Alfred. Not Cyclone Leanneāthough that has a nice ring to itābut the system set to hit Southeast Queensland on Friday morning.
As Iām out for a walk, I want to share some thoughts on contingency planning, how people are responding, and whatās going on here as the winds start picking up.
Whatās Covered in Todayās Episode:
- The Warnings and Initial Reactions: The governmentās been flagging this for a while, and Iāll admit, at first, I was a bit complacent. Living in the Kimberley, Iāve seen my share of cyclones that didnāt turn out to be that badābut this one feels different.
- The Power of Information (and Misinformation): Iāve been following various weather sources, from official reports to storm-chasing Facebook groups. Some are measured, others are a bit⦠dramatic. But the real chaos? The comments section. Panic levels seem to spike when you see what people are posting.
- The Great Queensland Panic Buy: Bottled water vanished days ago. Supermarkets are seeing pre-7 a.m. lines. Even the bakery is getting smashed. Itās giving flashbacks to the COVID-era toilet paper saga. But are we over-preparing or underestimating?
- What Iām Actually Worried About: Itās not the power going outāIāve got my battery packs. Itās the mobile towers. No internet means no podcasts, no updates, no way to keep connected. That thought freaked me out a bit.
- The Unpredictability of Cyclones: Iāve learned that where you are relative to the cycloneās eye makes all the difference. The south side? Thatās where the strongest winds and damage tend to be.
- Contingency Plans for Red Carpet Campout: Iāve got a call with Steve later today about our event next week. Looking at the maps, my gut says itās not happening. If the access roads flood, itās game over.
- Hearing the Anxiety Firsthand: Listening to people at the sandbag depots has been heartbreaking. Some are trying to protect their homes from what could be devastating flooding. The uncertainty is tough.
- Memories of Brisbaneās Past Floods: Iāve been here for two major floods, and itās brutal. Friends lost their homes. Businesses wiped out. That smell of flood damage stays with you forever. My heart is going out to those in low-lying areas right now.
- The Curse of Knowing Too Much: A guy from North Queensland shared what itās like to be in the eye of a cycloneāhe described it as four hours of hearing a jet engine outside his window. Yikes.
Final Thoughts:
- Best case? The whole thing is a fizzer, we get a bit of rain, and move on. That would be amazing.
- Worst case? Significant flooding, power outages, and major damage.
- My plan is to keep this podcast goingāassuming the internet holds up.
- Right now, the weather is eerily calm. It really is the definition of the ācalm before the storm.
Thanks for listening, stay safe, and Iāll catch you tomorrow (hopefully).
Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com
P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are three ways I can help:
- Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel:Ā Let's energise your next event.
- Get My Book: Design your workshops fast usingĀ The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint.Ā
- Red Carpet Campout: Inspire, Indulge, Invent.Ā Letās take your ideas outside in March 2025.
Let's connect on all the channels:
Visit my website: leannehughes.com
Email me: hello@leannehughes.com
Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.