A Hastings man is sitting tight in his Whitsundays apartment in Queensland, evacuation bags at the ready, 500m from the red zone as Cyclone Debbie rages outside.
Neville Chapman, his partner and her son are in the top storey of an apartment block in Cannonvale, near Airlie Beach. Houses just
a few streets in front of them were evacuated earlier today.
Debbie is currently a category three system, but was expected to reach category four, with wind gusts of up to 260km/h and damaging storm surges that could cause significant flooding.
Mr Chapman, who moved to Australia two years ago, had prepared by filling the bath with water in case the sewerage system was wrecked, bringing the BBQ inside for cooking when the power was out and packing away food, water, clothes, cash and essentials for a quick departure,if need be.
Meanwhile in Hawke's Bay Dixie Chicks fans are optimistic that the weather will be favourable when the American country music band plays at the Mission Estate on April 8.
With the long-range weather forecasts for this weekend looking reasonably good, many are harbouring the notion that weather tends to run in seven-day cycles.
