Hon Rob Horstman questions the Minister for Emergency Services regarding the decision not to establish an evacuation centre in Karratha during Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, despite Dampier being on red alert.

AnsweredQoN 295Legislative Council
Asked
6 May 2026
Portfolio
Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

Cyclone Narelle
295. Hon Rob Horstman to
the minister representing the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to the
recent Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle and, in particular, to the impact on
residents in Karratha and the Pilbara. Why was the decision made by the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services not to establish an evacuation centre
in Karratha, given that Dampier is less than 20 kilometres away and was on red
alert?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member
for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the
Minister for Emergency Services.
For Karratha, the
forecast and observed impacts did not meet the threshold to escalate from watch
and act to emergency warning. Dampier was escalated to emergency warning due to
recorded category 2 wind conditions. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services,
in consultation with Western Australia Police Force, the local government and
the Department of Communities, determined that activation of an evacuation
centre was not required.

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