Australia: Thousands Of People Still Has No Power Due To Ex-Cyclone Jasper

(Photo : Getty Images/BRIAN CASSEY)

Thousands of residents still have no power supply in Australia due to ex-tropical cyclone Jasper.

Authorities said that residents in flooded far north Queensland are still preparing for more rain as Jasper moves slowly westward over Cape York Peninsula.

Further, the weather system is expected to hit the Gulf of Carpentaria as it edges towards the Northern Territory.

So far, meteorologists said that the system has slowed down significantly.

No Power For Days

Officials mentioned that thousands of people have been without power for days and flooded roads have hampered access to towns in the aftermath of the bad weather.

Authorities also said that many weather stations along the eastern coast have reported more than 500mm of rain in the same four-day period.

The Queensland Government said that with the effects of Jasper being felt across large areas of Far North Queensland, disaster assistance has already been extended to more areas to help residents and local councils.

The Australian and Queensland Governments have already activated the jointly-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for nine Far North councils.

Moreover, Personal Hardship Assistance has been extended to the entire Yarrabah, Cairns, Mareeba, Tablelands and Cassowary Coast.

Meanwhile, authorities said that also eligible for assistance were the select localities in Cook Shire including Shipton Flat, Rossville, Ayton, Bloomfield, Laura, Lakeland, Oaky Creek, Helenvale, Mount Amos, as well as the defined areas of Cooktown.

Authorities said that residents can access grants of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover the costs of essentials like food, clothing and medicine.

Furthermore, the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme is also available to eligible homeowners needing to reconnect electricity, gas, water or sewerage.

The councils of Mareeba, Tablelands and Yarrabah can already access funding for counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets such as roads, bridges and floodways.

These new measures are in addition to the support activated on December 14, which provided Personal Hardship Assistance grants to impacted residents in Douglas and Wujal Wujal, and some Council support for Cairns, Cook, Douglas, Hopevale, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.

Meanwhile, officials have also declared a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) period of emergency in parts of Queensland affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

They said that the period of emergency applies from December 12 to December 19 in the following local government areas: Cairns Regional Council, Cook Shire Council, Douglas Shire Council, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council, Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council, and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council.

Emergency Warning System

Following the effects of Jasper, authorities said that Queensland's new emergency warning system has been accused of creating confusion and fear during its first big test as they admitted that it "fell short" as Jasper approached the North Queensland coast.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the system, which was used for the first time during a cyclone, supposedly had some failings.

Watt emphasized that the National Emergency Management Agency, which oversaw the new warning system, needs to work with states and local councils to fix the glitches that had been exposed amid the onslaught of Jasper.