After huge devastation in Queensland caused by “hundred year” flooding, Queensland was then hit by Cyclone Yasi – a Category 5 cyclone. Tully, Cardwell and other towns were hard hit.  Cat 5 is considered “catastrophic” in terms of damage.

I know I wrote the book after living through a Cat 4 (with Cat 5 gusts) and then Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Jeanne and I know I spent a lot of time putting together the “358 Ways to Handle Storm and Flood”.  And I know some of it is common sense (and some not so common) but to hear a government official telling residents to “tape your windows” really got to me.

But the storm is gone and the aftermath is here!  The need to be successful now and in the days and weeks to follow is paramount. (And it will be weeks – minimum)

Please, if you’ve not seen my work – check it out.  At very least read the first blog (if you’ve got power and internet) and read tomorrow’s – Staying strong, keeping your family strong are paramount.  Avoiding stupid mistakes is NUMBER 1.

Historically more people die and are injured after a storm than during it.  It’s because two things happen – didn’t expect something (like a snake or a live electrical wire) and sheer exhaustion makes you do really stupid things – dangerous things.

After Hurricane Charley when we’d been without electricity for two weeks and after working on my and my neighbours’ homes for two weeks I was so tired  it didn’t even occur to me to turn off the generator and let it cool down before I refilled it with gasoline.  Now that’s stupid!  And I’m not a stupid guy.  I was just worn out, bone-weary dumb.  And I did that.  I did something so stupid I could have killed myself and burned down my home.

So, everyone in Queensland – where you were flooded out and then got a cyclone, and Victoria – where you’ve just had six months rain in a day, and Perth – where you’ve got “hell on earth” as a resident said. Be Careful, stay strong, stay sensible!

And for my readers who aren’t as familiar with Cyclone Yasi or Australia as you are with America and Europe here’s something to look at. The BBC compared Hurricane Katrina with Cyclone Yasi – and super-imposed them onto maps.

Take a look http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12347702