It's making the news in the USA that a cat 5 hurricane is about to hit Cairns. Hope everyone makes it out okay.

http://www.news.com.au/...-1225998711771.

Unfortunately the story is true. Category 5, 300km/h+ winds, a tidal wave, up to 700mm of rain and a storm cell twice the size of the last large cyclone to hit the area which was back in 2006.

Most people have, by order of the Queensland Government, evacuated the area where the cyclone may strike the coast however some are staying to ride it out - some people just won't be told and they are the ones gasping for air whilst expecting to be rescued from flood waters.

Between November and February Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland coastlines are threatened by cyclones. They usually run out of steam before striking the coast but sometimes things take a turn for the worst and this is one of those occasions.

During the floods in the lower half of Queensland over the last month Queensland was threatened by three other cyclones with another two in Western Australia.

All we can do now is play the waiting game and see how things go over the next five hours.

http://www.news.com.au/...-1225998762870.

Here are some photos of how big the tropical depression is. The cyclone is somewhere inside that.

As most will know by now through the news services, Cairns escaped most of the cyclone's fury, which was vented at Mission Beach, Cardwell, Tully and Innisfail instead. The cyclone is still a category 1 storm hovering over the west of the state.

180,000 homes lost power, water and communications during the presence of the cyclone and this includes much of the pole-to-pole cabling for the national broadband network in Townsville. Perhaps the original plan of burying the cables would have been more prudent, given the benefit of hindsight.

Sadly, today news came through that one person has lost their life. This occurred when a resident brought a portable generator inside their house and ran it after the municipal power supply failed. The individual was later overcome by the exhaust fumes.

The preliminary cost to the state due to the cyclone is $1bn though this will rise when a more accurate survey of damage is taken.

Winds peaked at 300km/h over a wide area however predicted tidal swells and rainfall fell short of forecasts. Many thousands of people are currently homeless however charities are quickly helping these people establish temporary accomodation and food supplies.

The Commonwealth Government and the Government of Queensland have been very quick to react to the cyclone and recent torrential flooding. As inept and useless as governments seem most of the time they do get off their bums and do their jobs properly when it counts and that is good to see.

What isn't so good is hearing of those who are abusing the generosity of Australia's welfare system by claiming money for which they are not entitled. Nor are reports of looting incidents.

The State of Queensland will recover fully. It will take some time but it will happen.