As Tropical Cyclone Alfred hurtles towards Australia’s east coast, cafe owner Quat Vu is as ready as he can be.
His Brisbane-based Eightysix Cafe was inundated during the 2022 floods which devastated more than 20,000 homes and caused $2 billion in damage.
“We know what to expect and we had a bit more time to prepare,” Mr Vu told AAP.
Blue translucent tarps line his brick cafe’s windows, hunkered down with lines of yellow and white sandbags.
“We had (sandbags) to a certain height but then we got the latest news about what the cyclone is doing and how it is going to dump a lot more rain so we’re just getting ready,” he said.
It’s a team effort across southeast Queensland, as neighbours and locals chip in to prepare for Alfred’s arrival.
“We’re hoping for the best on Saturday or whenever it lands,” he said.
Mr Vu is among millions of residents across two states bunkering down as the category one cyclone creeps up to coastal islands on Saturday morning.
It is expected to weaken to a tropical low system by Saturday afternoon after crossing the coast between Noosa and Beenleigh.
Regardless of Alfred’s final category, severe and significant impacts are expected from Double Island Point in Queensland down to Yamba in NSW.
Winds up to 120km/h and widespread rainfall totals of 300mm to 500mm are expected across the duration of this event, leading to major flood risks.
“We’re asking people to have a plan. That’s the greatest thing you can have in this,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.
Close to 100,000 households are already without power across both states.
Those across the border in NSW’s northern rivers region face an anxious wait, with about 19,000 residents told to leave.
Major flooding is expected along the Logan, Tweed, Wilsons, Richmond, Nambucca, Hastings and Brunswick rivers, with the threat of intense and prolonged rain driving rapid and dangerous river rises during the state’s first cyclone in 35 years.
A man remains missing after he and his 4WD was swept off a bridge by fast-moving floodwaters northeast of Dorrigo in northern NSW on Friday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a team of 66 disaster response personnel have arrived from New Zealand to assist, as hardship payments for those who are unable to work activate.
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