Cyclone Information For Parents

Please read carefully in order to understand the College practice in each of the Cyclone alert categories.

As of 15 July 2024, Western Australia has adopted the Australian Warning System (AWS) for bushfire, cyclone, flood and storm warnings.

Cyclones

Tropical Cyclones are a seasonally occurring natural hazard that can cause considerable damage to property and potentially threaten lives. The North West cyclone season extends from the beginning of November through to the end of April each year.

The S.E.S. and Bureau of Meteorology provides information to schools and the community about the potential threat of an approaching cyclone, ensuring sufficient preparations can be made to minimise the impact on our College and to ensure the safety of our students.

Cyclone Warnings delivered by Department of Fire and Emergency Services:

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Advice

Under Advice the College will usually remain open.

If a Watch and Act is predicted and likely to be declared at some time during the school day the College will not open and children are to remain at home.

An SMS alert will be sent to parents.  The College Facebook page and Instagram will also issue updates.

If the College is to close, this information will be broadcasted via the following local radio stations.  Emergency information is broadcasted at approximately ¼ past the hour.  The frequency of the updates will depend on the type of cyclone alert.   School closure will be broadcasted between 6.15am and 7.45am.

  • ABC Radio (Official Broadcast)
  • Spirit Radio (Unofficial Broadcast)

The closure advice will be repeated each morning until the decision to re-open the College is made.

School buses may be affected at this stage.  Any change to the bus operation will be given on the radio at the above times.

PLEASE DO NOT RING THE COLLEGE.   All information and updated reports relating to the warnings and school closure ARE ISSUED ON THE RADIO.  Please keep yourself informed: ABC Pilbara.

Watch and Act

If a Watch and Act is declared during a school day, the following will occur:

  • Watch and Act  before 12:00pm:  – An SMS alert will be sent to parents.  Students can be picked up immediately from the College.  The College will close at lunch time.  Students will not be sent home until instructions are received from parents.
  • Watch and Act  after 12:00pm:  – An SMS alert will be sent to parents.  Students can be picked up immediately from the College.  The College will close at the normal time (3pm).  Students will not be sent home until instructions are received from parents .
  • Watch and Act after 14:00pm:   – An SMS alert will be sent to parents.  If a Watch and Act is called at or after 14:00pm (2:00pm), the College will generally be closed the following day.  Please continue to listen to the radio to receive information as to when schools will open.

The above does not preclude immediate closure in extenuating circumstances and if deemed necessary by the Cyclone Committee.

Emergency Warning

The College will remain closed during an Emergency Warning.

  • In the event that an Emergency Warning is proclaimed after 2.00pm, the College will remain closed the following day.
  • In the event that an Emergency Warningis proclaimed after 2.00pm but subsequently cancelled, the Regional Executive Director, in consultation with the Cyclone Committee has the discretion to ensure that schools open the following day.

Following a cyclone

If an Emergency Warning is called after 2.00pm schools will generally be closed the following day to allow for assessment and repair of serious damage.  Please continue to listen to the radio to receive information as to when schools will open.

Staff and students cannot return or enter College grounds until the school has been assessed and meets all safety and health standards.

Please keep yourself informed via the radio, until all threats from the cyclone is past.