As Cyclone Yasi tore through the small north Queensland town of Tully, Pat Brauer and her husband huddled together in their bathroom, petrified at the storm’s menacing roar.
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‘‘The noise it was like a train coming, it was absolutely frightening,’’ she said.
‘‘It was just unbelievable when the windows popped.
‘‘Larry and all the other cyclones, they were nothing compared to this.’’
Tully has been decimated by last night's cyclone, with a local councillor estimating up to half the town's homes have lost their roofs.
Cassowary Coast councillor Ross Sorbello said the worst of Yasi had now passed, revealing a trail of destruction.
He said he'd heard many reports of homes without roofs, including his own mother's where he'd been taking shelter, forcing he and his wife and mum to flee.
"We are talking about a pretty strong brick house that was built in the 70s, so God help us in the morning when we look at some of the older places," he said.
From 11.30pm until 1am Mrs Brauer suffered what she said were the most terrifying moments of her life as winds battered her house, blowing out windows and glass doors while rain brought in water five centimetres deep.
