Qld: Darwin battens down hatches for category five Monica

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2006
Qld: Darwin battens down hatches for category five Monica

Darwin residents are being warned to batten down the hatches .. as severe tropical
Cyclone Monica heads towards the city.

The category five cyclone is expected to reach the western Arnhem coast later today
.. and Darwin and the Tiwi Islands by tomorrow.

The weather bureau's ANDREW TUPPER says the cyclone should lose some intensity as it
hits land .. but Darwin can expect strong wind gusts tomorrow morning.

He says any Darwin residents unsure if their houses can withstand a category five storm
.. should seek refuge in a cyclone shelter.





In the Darwin area .. shelters are located at the new Supreme Court building, Nightcliff
and Dripstone High Schools, Casuarina Senior College, Palmerston High School, the Girraween
Primary School at Howard Springs, Taminmin High School at Humpty Doo and the Community
Government Council Building on the Cox Peninsula.

Pets can be taken to shelters at the Casuarina and Palmerston shopping centres, the
Hub at Palmerston and the Holiday Inn Esplanade in Darwin.

AAP RTV jtl/jmt

KEYWORD: MONICA (BRISBANE)

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