<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>339696</docID> <postdate>2025-03-06 07:09:05</postdate> <headline>Ship-shape: sea captain bunkers down as cyclone looms</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-339697" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250305188462312224-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Sea captain Brad Delange is tapping into his nautical knowledge ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Savannah Meacham</strong> and <strong>Laine Clark</strong> in Brisbane</span></p> <p><strong>As a sea captain, Brad Delange is used to being surrounded by water.</strong></p> <p>But his wife is not too keen, so Mr Delange has had to pull out all stops as the pair brace for Tropical Cyclone Alfred to lash southeast Queensland.</p> <p>Mr Delange is bunkering down at his Cleveland home, tapping into his nautical knowledge that has taken him from the high seas to a stint on reality TV show, Below Deck.</p> <p>"The preparations are to keep the wife happy," he told AAP.</p> <p>About 20,000 properties in the Brisbane area face flooding, as the category two system hurtles towards the city before crossing the coast on Friday.</p> <p>In an update on Wednesday night, the weather bureau said although the centre of the storm would still most likely cross between Maroochydore and Coolangatta, the latest modelling data suggested it could cross later on Friday than previously indicated.</p> <p>The brutal effects will be felt from Double Island Point in Queensland down to Grafton in northern NSW.</p> <p>Mr Delange has left nothing to chance, bolstering his home with sandbags, extra water tanks and power generators after securing the roof.</p> <p>"I'm a sea captain, so we're used to these kind of things," he said.</p> <p>"It's always preparation, (ensuring) nothing can fly around."</p> <p>He expects some inundation with tidal surges brought by Alfred along with heavy rain and destructive winds of up to 155km/h.</p> <p>"It's like when you're at sea, you have to always evaluate your heights," he said.</p> <p>"The height of this house is three metres. At the moment, the estimated tidal surge is 2.4m.</p> <p>"If it's very, very extreme ...(it is) still nowhere near the top of the house but the water will be in the yard."</p> <p>Residents in high risk areas have been urged to stay with family and friends or head to evacuation centres, while others should stay home as millions brace for the first cyclone to hit the state's southeast since 1974.</p> <p>"When events like this happen, people realise truly what's important in life - you are what's important in life," Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.</p> <p>"Of course you should do all the preparation to protect your property ... but humans are worth more than any material possession."</p> <p>Queensland's southeast and northern NSW have begun to shut down as authorities bolster the region, with the federal government activating Australian Defence Force assistance and local council disaster grants.</p> <p>Schools, public transport, major roads and Gold Coast airport are closed on Thursday, with elective surgeries also put on hold but emergency departments remain open.</p> <p>Qantas has cancelled a number of flights, Carnival Luminosa's three-day cruise was called off and Greyhound bus services from Brisbane have been axed.</p> <p>NSW Premier Chris Minns urged Northern Rivers residents to prepare, just three years after flooding devastated the region, saying Thursday was the "day to act" and to avoid floodwaters.</p> </body>