MORE than 15,000 kilometres away from Tamworth, a category four cyclone slaughtered homes, buildings and everything else in its way.
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Winds of more than 260km/h and an onslaught of rain saw roofs torn off, trees and power poles uprooted, and almost 50,000 people without power when Cyclone Debbie hit North Queensland at 1pm Tuesday.
It will no doubt be a long and tough journey to rebuild.
As a couple of local State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers head to Queensland tasked with the mission of cleaning up the widespread mess, other local SES crews are preparing for something a little closer to home.
The volunteer-run SES is bunkering down for wild weather as the remnants of Cyclone Debbie are forecast to lash the New England and North West on Wednesday.
Flash flooding and strong winds are expected – and the region’s SES crews are pleading with residents to listen to warnings.
Natural disasters can bring out the best and the worst in people.
We need only look to the nation-wide response to help Queensland rebuild again – from local Essential Energy electrical crews deployed to restore power, to an army of volunteers cleaning up – to see the good side of Mother Nature’s worst.
These people must be applauded for stepping up and lending a helping hand to those who need it most.
But with a natural disaster can come complacency or stupidity.
All too often we see motorists attempting to drive through rising floodwater or residents thumbing their nose to warnings as an emergency unfolds.
Local SES crews are urging locals to heed their warnings when the wild weather hits this week.
It’s important that we listen to those who know best.
SES volunteers are there to help us in our darkest hours.
They put their own lives at risk to try save another.
The very least we can do is listen to them and act under their instruction when it comes to an unfolding natural disaster.
Residents living near rivers or inland waterways are being warned to watch the rain in the coming days as flash flooding is expected in areas around Inverell and possible the Macintyre River around Goondiwindi.