Cyclone Alfred and me: Beryl's story

We asked people to share their stories of Cyclone Alfred. Beryl is a QCC volunteer who wants to raise awareness about the link between climate change and extreme weather events.

As Cyclone Alfred loomed closer, I found myself glued to the weather updates, anxiously refreshing the forecasts. My mind was all over the place – 'No, this can’t be happening' to 'What even is a Cat 2 Cyclone?'

My head raced through all the 'what ifs' - Do I have enough food and water? Candles? Have I checked in with family and friends?

When Alfred hit, it felt like all hell had let loose. Gale force winds and torrential rain battered everything in its path. I hunkered down, hoping for the best. But the real shock came the next day. The aftermath was a wake-up call that this was REAL - not just some weather event I could brush off. My side fence is wrecked, costing $500 to repair. The back patio concrete floor? Ruined by water damage.

I was lucky - my family and friends made it through unscathed. But this isn't a normal event, especially this far south in Queensland. The storm really got me thinking - What can we do to raise awareness and start conversations?

Cyclone Alfred proves that catastrophic weather events are no longer a distant threat. Climate change is here, and it’s happening now. We need to take action – talk about it, raise awareness, and make sure people are paying attention.

So, let's get the message out there: Put a CAN sign in your yard, start a letterbox drop, and, most importantly, have those crucial conversations. Let's stand up and speak out for our planet.

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