A view from within Tropical Cyclone Debbie

Acting Inspector Craig Shepherd, Acting Senior Sergeant Craig McConnel and some of the Bowen Police Team need to be congratulated for their stellar efforts before, during and after Tropical Cyclone Debbie

The weather warnings for Tropical Cyclone Debbie came a week out. Towns along the coastline of North Queensland prepared and watched with baited breath to find out what path TC Debbie would take and who was in the firing line.

In the days leading up to the crossing, police and communities watched the intensity increase to a category two, then a three, with a four predicted when it crossed the coast.

Bowen Police, with the outstanding efforts of the local SES set about preparing for a disaster and directed over 2,500 evacuations on the Sunday. They backed up again on Monday with a further 1,500 evacuations, often in pouring rain. They went door to door to evacuate at risk community members right up until ‘she’ arrived.

Many of the police and volunteers had to then make plans for their own homes as they were also in flood zones themselves.

By evening on March 27, TC Debbie had developed into a category 4 cyclone and was headed for Bowen and officers were pre-deployed to Bowen to help bolster numbers.

No one normally wants to hang out in the local courthouse but this was where the Bowen police and their families sheltered during the cyclone, so they were ready to respond as soon as the cyclone passed.

As the troops bunkered down and prepared, Mackay Country District Acting Inspector Craig Shepherd received word that they should prepare for the worst.

“During that phone call I was given a comprehensive briefing and what I took away from that was that the cyclone was approaching Bowen and we’d take a catastrophic and deadly hit. It sent shivers down my spine,” Acting Inspector Shepherd said.

“I was asked what our Bowen Morgue capabilities and undertaker facilities were and with that I knew we could be in real trouble.

“I was asked to take the names and dates of birth of all 63 people bunkered down at the courthouse. As I took down details of everyone including 17 children, four of which were mine, I watched their faces as they were playing and sleeping on the floor.

“Those images and memories will haunt me for many years to come as it was without doubt the toughest day of my 27-years in the QPS.

The Bowen Court House managed to withstand TC Debbie

“Much is said about leadership in times of crisis but all I can say is that leadership comes easy when you have such brilliant people around you. I was very fortunate to lead during those long dreadful hours inside the courthouse waiting for Debbie.”

Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best the QPS members and their families got ready for Debbie. The town lost power and the entire community waited some 30 hours in howling winds and torrential rain as pieces of Bowen whistled past them or banged into their sanctuary.

TC Debbie made landfall shortly after 1pm on Tuesday, March 28 near Bowen causing widespread damage and destruction to homes and buildings, with the most destructive winds hitting the Whitsunday area just south of Bowen.

As soon as the gale force winds were over, all police in Bowen mustered and immediately swung into action as they recommenced police operations and set about identifying those most vulnerable.

The local Bowen police crews worked non-stop for days preparing for, then dealing with the cyclone and the aftermath. They were literally run off their feet dealing with multiple calls for service. They hadn’t slept in days and needed rest.

The mandate for the northern police relief teams were to get to Bowen, relieve ‘all’ local officers and commence police operations.

A team of Far North District Drug Squad detectives were the first of the support crews to arrive after the cyclone. They got to work immediately lending a hand to the Bowen crews in whatever way they could, including general uniform duties.

Our remaining northern contingent led by Acting Senior Sergeant Heemi arrived in Bowen late afternoon on Thursday March 30, to shocking devastation. Not wanting to burden the local crew, Acting Senior Sergeant Heemi and his far northern teams without fuss, rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in.

It appeared as though neither Acting Inspector Craig Shepherd, nor Acting Senior Sergeant Craig McConnel got the memo they were relieved. They remained at the helm for a further two days, along with several of their staff who did everything they could to support and make their northern colleagues feel welcome from the moment they arrived.

Officer in Charge of Bowen Police Station, Acting Senior Sergeant Craig McConnel praised the outstanding efforts of all police involved with TC Debbie.

“Acting Sergeant Kryemborg did a great job at our Bowen Cyclone Shelter. He lead a team of officers from Bowen and Mackay and opened doors to the public at 9am Monday,” Acting Senior Sergeant McConnel said.

“They too were holed up for 30 hours and lost phone lines, generator and emergency power. One person at the shelter also suffered a medical emergency and had to be evacuated during the cyclone.

“Everyone did an amazing job, but I have to commend Detective Sergeant Mark Inmon’s efforts in looking after everyone after the cyclone. He was feeding our families, relieving and working officers as well as six pre-deployed ADF personnel members who were in with us.”

Acting Senior Sergeant Heemi explained to me that he didn’t want to take away from the brilliant work everyone did from around the state to help Bowen, but he felt that the story of the way Bowen police worked tirelessly for their community before, during and after Cyclone Debbie is the most impressive and needed to be told.

“We were there to help and just wanted to look after them, send them home so they could take a breather, assess the damage at their own homes and spend some time with their families,” Acting Senior Sergeant Heemi said.

“What I have seen every day since arriving in Bowen has been nothing less than inspiring. Our Bowen brothers and sisters in blue do what they do every day and continue to serve with pride in these tough conditions.

“They were in Bowen with their families when Tropical Cyclone Debbie hit and I’ve seen footage taken by them during the event and it was a sight to see. I can’t fathom what it must have been like preparing storm shelters, evacuating communities, preparing for the worst, all the while in the back of your mind worrying about your own loved ones.

“It’s been a real privilege to serve next to all colleagues from Bowen police and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their unwavering commitment, dedication to community and selflessness. You are an inspiration to us all and should be proud of yourself and your efforts.

“I know we are suitably impressed and it seems to me that when things are at their worst, our people are at their best.”

Below are a series of photos taken by our Bowen colleagues during and after TC Debbie:

Plenty of police teams joined in the clean up during their down time, raised a good sweat and helped to get Bowen back on track