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| Cyclone Alfred: Day centre a refuge for the homeless during the storm | Cyclone Alfred: Day centre a refuge for the homeless during the storm |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Inside shelter housing homeless during Cyclone Alfred | Watch: Inside shelter housing homeless during Cyclone Alfred |
| Residents across the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales have been waiting anxiously as Cyclone Alfred crawls towards them, leaving thousands in the dark. | Residents across the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales have been waiting anxiously as Cyclone Alfred crawls towards them, leaving thousands in the dark. |
| Four million people are in the firing line of the region's first tropical cyclone in more than half a century, which is expected to make landfall on Saturday. Thousands have been told to evacuate. | Four million people are in the firing line of the region's first tropical cyclone in more than half a century, which is expected to make landfall on Saturday. Thousands have been told to evacuate. |
| Most have taken heed of warnings to stay indoors - taping up their windows and strapping down garden furniture - while shops have lined sandbags in front of their doors. | Most have taken heed of warnings to stay indoors - taping up their windows and strapping down garden furniture - while shops have lined sandbags in front of their doors. |
| Alfred's path has slowed in recent days, with one meteorologist described it as a "walking pace" - which has sparked fears of prolonged rain and flooding. | Alfred's path has slowed in recent days, with one meteorologist described it as a "walking pace" - which has sparked fears of prolonged rain and flooding. |
| In southern Brisbane, a popular city in Queensland, some from the homeless community have taken refuge at Emmanuel City Mission, filling the floor on rows of inflatable air mattresses. | In southern Brisbane, a popular city in Queensland, some from the homeless community have taken refuge at Emmanuel City Mission, filling the floor on rows of inflatable air mattresses. |
| The space, usually a day centre for people needing a shower or a hot meal, has become a round-the-clock shelter. | The space, usually a day centre for people needing a shower or a hot meal, has become a round-the-clock shelter. |
| Tim Noonan said that few facilities are still open for those in need | |
| Operations manager Tim Noonan told the BBC that most government-funded charities in the inner city of Brisbane have shut down since Thursday, leaving limited options for those in need. | Operations manager Tim Noonan told the BBC that most government-funded charities in the inner city of Brisbane have shut down since Thursday, leaving limited options for those in need. |
| It may be the first time in a long while that homeless people - who typically live in tents in parks or along riverbanks - have a proper resting space, he said. | It may be the first time in a long while that homeless people - who typically live in tents in parks or along riverbanks - have a proper resting space, he said. |
| "It's counter intuitive...but this is the best they've been looked after. They've got somewhere to sleep. | "It's counter intuitive...but this is the best they've been looked after. They've got somewhere to sleep. |
| "For a lot of them, this would be the first time in 10 years they've had an eight-hour sleep in air conditioning, going to bed on a full belly, waking up, getting a barista coffee and a bacon and egg burger," he said. | "For a lot of them, this would be the first time in 10 years they've had an eight-hour sleep in air conditioning, going to bed on a full belly, waking up, getting a barista coffee and a bacon and egg burger," he said. |
| Mr Noonan said he hoped the cyclone would highlight the need for better funding for organisations such as his. | Mr Noonan said he hoped the cyclone would highlight the need for better funding for organisations such as his. |
| "We'd love for when the cyclone passes, that these people don't become invisible again," he said. | "We'd love for when the cyclone passes, that these people don't become invisible again," he said. |
| Lauren Gorman was spending her second night at the centre with her dog Charcoal. | Lauren Gorman was spending her second night at the centre with her dog Charcoal. |
| "I live on the streets, we have a housing crisis, and now we have a cyclone. This place has been amazing for finding other people who are doing it rough and getting information," she told the BBC. | "I live on the streets, we have a housing crisis, and now we have a cyclone. This place has been amazing for finding other people who are doing it rough and getting information," she told the BBC. |
| "I'm not scared, but I am worried for others who are still on the streets." | "I'm not scared, but I am worried for others who are still on the streets." |
| Federal MP Anika Wells says complacency is the biggest risk | Federal MP Anika Wells says complacency is the biggest risk |
| While the authorities have warned for days about the cyclone, some die-hard surfers have instead seized the opportunity to ride the high waves. | While the authorities have warned for days about the cyclone, some die-hard surfers have instead seized the opportunity to ride the high waves. |
| Federal MP Anika Wells, whose Lilley electorate is in the north of Brisbane, says complacency is the biggest risk - especially as the arrival of the cyclone kept being pushed back. | Federal MP Anika Wells, whose Lilley electorate is in the north of Brisbane, says complacency is the biggest risk - especially as the arrival of the cyclone kept being pushed back. |
| "We're going door to door in some suburbs, where people are being asked to evacuate, but lots of people aren't going because this is a once-in-50 year event, and it's hard to take that notice to evacuate seriously, perhaps, when the sun is still shining in your backyard," Wells told the BBC. | "We're going door to door in some suburbs, where people are being asked to evacuate, but lots of people aren't going because this is a once-in-50 year event, and it's hard to take that notice to evacuate seriously, perhaps, when the sun is still shining in your backyard," Wells told the BBC. |
| As well as strong winds, Cyclone Alfred is expected to dump as much as 800mm of rain in the coming days. Flash and riverine flooding is the biggest concern in low-lying areas. | As well as strong winds, Cyclone Alfred is expected to dump as much as 800mm of rain in the coming days. Flash and riverine flooding is the biggest concern in low-lying areas. |
| Some residents have been told they could be without power for days. | Some residents have been told they could be without power for days. |
| Nearly 1,000 schools have closed, public transport has been suspended and airports are shut. Elective surgeries have also been cancelled. | Nearly 1,000 schools have closed, public transport has been suspended and airports are shut. Elective surgeries have also been cancelled. |
| Flights are not expected to resume until Sunday at the earliest. | Flights are not expected to resume until Sunday at the earliest. |
| Additional reporting by Kelly Ng | Additional reporting by Kelly Ng |