Tropical Cyclone Ilsa: Hedland ‘lucky to escape’ as roadhouse counts cost of devastating weather

Residents of WA’s North West are counting the cost of the damage done by tropical cyclone Ilsa, with one historic roadhouse almost completely torn apart by the system.

The severe weather system crossed the WA coast around midnight 150km east of Port Hedland near Pardoo Roadhouse, bringing winds in excess of 250km/h and heavy rain to parts of the East Pilbara, with 194.8mm falling at Bamboo Creek in 24 hours.

While Port Hedland managed to escape relatively unscathed, Pardoo Roadhouse, which sits around 150km to the east, wasn’t so lucky.

Pictures posted to the venue’s Facebook page showed the extent of the damage, with the roof of the main roadhouse building almost completely ripped off. Workers’ accommodation dongas — empty after all staff were evacuated — were flattened.

It’s estimated the total damage bill will be close to $4 million.

“The team from Pardoo Roadhouse and Tavern wish to let everyone know that all staff are safe and well, and for that, we are truly grateful,” Pardoo Roadhouse manager Kelly Anne Martinez said.

“Pardoo Roadhouse is a family-run business; we are a very close-knit team. This is not just where we work; this is our community and home.

“We have been inundated with messages from across the globe, and on behalf of our team, I want to thank everyone who reached out to us. You have lifted our spirits during this challenging time.

“We are all still a bit shaken and emotional to see the damage from Cyclone Ilsa. She may have wiped us out, but she can’t take our spirit away.”

In Port Hedland, residents were breathing a collective sigh of relief after the storm grazed the Pilbara town overnight.

People bunkered down at home when the town went into red alert around 3pm on Thursday, with tropical cyclone Ilsa sitting some 180km north of Port Hedland when the alert was put in place.

Town of Port Hedland mayor Peter Carter said local feared the worst heading into the night but were spared after Ilsa shifted east.

“For a while yesterday it kept inching closer and closer to Hedland, it was making a lot of people really really worried,” Mr Carter said.

“Luckily it seemed to take a turn east before crossing land, so we ended up just copping a tiny bit of rain and a few strong wind gusts.

“We’re thanking our lucky stars really. It was a category five cyclone — if that thing passed over Hedland we would have been in real trouble.”

Mr Carter said he was thankful authorities had taken a precautionary approach with warnings.

“Some people will probably roll their eyes and ask what the hype was about, but it’s really important to remember how unpredictable cyclones are,” he said.

“It’s back to normal life this morning, there’s barely a (tree) branch out of place, but it could’ve been very different.

“All it would’ve taken is a slightly different track — slightly more west, and Hedland could’ve been destroyed, so we’re relieved and thankful for all the precautions taken.”

The storm continues to weaken and move south-east across the East Pilbara, but it could continue to wreak havoc thanks to a separate weather system pushing up from south of the State.

Weatherwatch meteorologist Anthony Cornelius reported it “wasn’t every day” this combination of weather patterns combined.

Many Pilbara residents are still under cyclone lockdown, with a red alert still in place for Wallal Downs to De Grey Station, inland to Kunawarritji (which is under yellow alert) including Marble Bar, Nullagine, Telfer, Punmi and Parnngurr, with residents urged to stay inside and away from doors and windows until the all clear is given by authorities.

People in the Sandy Desert have been told to take action as isolated flooding is expected late Thursday and through Friday into Saturday, including people in Punmu, Parnngurr, Kunawarritji and Kiwirrkurra.