'The disconcerting reality of being one of the many Australians preparing for Cyclone Alfred.'

For the most part, my home — around 15 minutes south of Brisbane — has survived relatively unscathed from Queensland's famously wild and tumultuous weather.

Its high location has seen it escape the wrath of flash flooding, the consequences for my family mostly limited to lost power, defrosted perishables and bored children.

So when I first heard about Tropical Cyclone Alfred, I felt the same way I usually feel when I hear about extreme weather events — deep empathy for those in the firing line, but little to no concern for my own immediate surroundings.

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"You've got it wrong, Mum," my 11-year-old daughter told me a couple of days ago, holding out her phone. She'd been intently following a weather app to track the cyclone's movements. 

She was terrified. So, I thought, perhaps I'd better start taking notice. I flicked on the TV to a press conference about the impending weather event, and it seemed there was something different about Cyclone Alfred.

"I'll pop to the shops tomorrow and make sure we have enough food," I reassured my daughter. 

As promised, the following day, I drove to the supermarket after work, and from the moment I walked in, I felt it. 

I was first struck by the empty shelves. A sight reminiscent of the Covid pandemic, and — for those who can remember — the bizarre preparation for the turn of the century. 

No potatoes. No bananas. No bread. No long-life milk. No bottled water. 

At first, I chuckled to myself. "What an overreaction," I thought. 

Supermarket shelves are bare. Image: Supplied.

But then I took a look around. I took notice of the shoppers. 

They weren't frantic. The store was not full of customers rushing around, or snatching items from shelves. Rather, a sense of eerie melancholy drifted through the aisles. Faces shrouded in caution, not greed. Polite, albeit confused, smiles were shared. 

I grabbed what I could, then thought about potential power loss. I have plenty of candles, but for some reason, no torch. But I was unable to buy one — every torch was gone. I checked Big W. None there either.

When I returned home, I shared my experience with my children.

"I think you're underestimating this, Mum," my 15-year-old son said. I turned to his brother, who raised his eyebrows, and nodded. "I think Beau's right."

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I Googled "how to prepare for a cyclone", and came upon the following:

Have enough food and water for three days, collate a first aid kit, locate a torch and batteries. If you have one, power up a portable phone charger, grab some spare cash, and ensure important documents are stashed away in waterproof containers.

Some recommendations even included filling baths and buckets with water in case supply was interrupted. To protect homes, residents are urged to secure loose outdoor items, trim trees and repair broken window seals; locate a 'safe' room; and ensure your petrol tank is full.

At that moment, my heart went out to the thousands of Australians who are forced to prepare for these types of events regularly; those who have lost homes and precious items, and hours and days of time rebuilding and repairing.

The next minute, I realised I needed to get serious about my own preparation.

This morning, my local IGA had stocked up on bottled water, bread, eggs and other items, which I purchased (although still no torches). This afternoon, my kids and I will bring in loose items from outside, gather our candles together, and ensure our windows are closed and secure.

As Tropical Cyclone Alfred has now been categorised as a likely category 2, we've received notice that schools will be closed tomorrow and Friday, and residents are urged to keep off the roads. This means my children and I will be tucked away in our home, together.

There is no question that by Saturday, many Australians will be facing devastation. They will be facing days, weeks or even months of rebuilding.

What the next two days look like will be different for all of us depending on what Cyclone Alfred decides to unleash and where he decides to unleash it. It's a disconcerting feeling, but oddly, there's a feeling of unity in the air as well.

Shared challenges have a way of bringing us together. We help each other, as much as we help ourselves. 

My heart goes out to those in the most affected areas. I hope Alfred goes easy on us all.

Feature image: Supplied.