Lucky buggers! It's on my "bucket list" to experience a cyclone. My dad went through one when was about 6 in Cairns, he remembered the timber boards being torn off the walls and he could see out. He loved it.

Was in Charters Towers when a cyclone came inland above Rockhampton and swept up the back of the range to the towers. Full water tanks lifted of their stands and thrown about. Was in a chained down caravan and never do it again. Had to stay as dog not accepted in refuge. We both rode it out.

Daughter just messaged to say if cyclone stays on its predicted track it will go directly over her workplace.(minesite). She has been thru a couple, storm shutters on the windows, locked in her donga and just wait it out. They are all given a food pack to last them 24 hrs, bottles of water etc. As long as their power doesn't go out they can watch tv/videos, still have internet, make a cuppa. Some dongas rock a bit she says but its not too bad. She says it is a good excuse to stay in bed with a book!! ( her mother worries more about it than she does!!) Must admit she has never been in a real bad one, usually by the time they have gone inland they have turned into a rain depression with a bit of wind. They still do a lot of infrastructure damage though. this is the bit she hates, you know it is coming, you know it may change direction and completely miss you but you still have to get ready for lockdown, buildings secured, personell ready to be moved out if needed, machinery secured. Get it all done and it veers off and misses you, miss one step and get hit and the sxxxt hits the fan if there is damage or people hurt.