It’s dirtgirl here.
Something big is happening. A cyclone is on its way.
Cyclones are given names. This one is called Cyclone Alfred.
We’ve never had to prepare for a cyclone before in dirtgirlworld. It’s all new to us, and we are learning as we go. But here’s what I do know—being prepared helps us feel calm and ready, no matter what happens.
During the bushfires and the floods, scrapboy, Costa the Garden Gnome, and I had to evacuate. That’s an emergency word for quickly leaving our house to go somewhere safe.
I know how it feels to prepare for something big and unknown. It can feel exciting, a little scary, and even a bit strange. But I also know how good it feels to have a plan and stick to it.
A cyclone isn’t like a bushfire or a flood. It’s a different kind of storm—one where the wind gets too big, too strong, and too wild.
Have you ever felt the wind push against you when you walk?
A cyclone is wind that doesn’t just push—it howls, roars, and swirls. It can shake trees, rattle windows, and make things fly through the air. The rain comes down hard, like someone tipping over a giant bucket from the sky. There are big waves at the beach. Sometimes the cyclone causes flooding.
And then, for a little while, everything might go still. That’s the eye of the cyclone—a quiet moment in the middle of the storm, before the wind rushes back in from the other side.
Sometimes, cyclones change direction at the last minute, and we might be getting ready for nothing. But being prepared means that no matter where the cyclone goes, we know what to do.
In dirtgirlworld, we are bringing inside anything that could fly away—garden tools, chairs, and even Costa’s little gnome hat! We are making sure we have food and water and choosing a safe place inside to shelter. Many families choose to go to an evacuation centre to shelter form the cyclone and flooding. We are listening carefully to the radio for updates and following advice from experts who understand cyclones best.
And you can do the same.
Now it’s your turn to be part of the plan.
Pop on your emergency goggles! They aren’t real goggles — they are pretend — but they help us focus on staying calm and listening to the grown-ups.
Every family can appoint an emergency captain—the person who knows the plan. It might be your mum, dad, grandparent, or another big person in your family. Look at them. Listen to them. Follow their instructions.
scrapboy is our Cyclone Alfred captain because he is great with plans, and we all trust him.
I packed my emergency bag, just in case we have to leave quickly. You might want to pack one too—your favourite teddy, a book or a game, some snacks, clean undies and PJs, and a card with your name and contact details. If you have a torch, pop that in too, in case the power goes out.
Want to practice wearing it? You could walk around the house with it or even have a little run—your emergency goggles will give you an energy boost to carry your backpack on your own!
Because of our conditions, we have made the choice with Cyclone Alfred to stay inside and shelter at scrapboy’s house.
That means finding a safe space in his house—a strong room, away from windows, where we can wait together until the storm has passed. His bathroom is perfect for that!
While we wait, we are going to make a cosy little nest of pillows and blankets. We’ll tell stories, play games, listen to music, and cuddle up with the chickens. If you have pets, they might feel scared too—so we can help keep them calm with gentle pats and soft voices.
And if the power goes out? That’s okay. We’ll be ready. A trusty torch will help out then.
If you have to evacuate grab your backpack, bag or pillowcase of stuff, listen to the emergency captain, and follow the plan to get to safety.
If I start to feel worried, I talk to myself. I say,
“I can cope. We’ve got a plan. We know what to do. It’s just one step at a time.”
I say it as many times as I need to, and it helps me feel calm.
And I slow myself down by taking a deep breath in… and letting it out slowly. Want to try? Breathe in and out… Breathe in and out… Breathe in and out!
Things can be replaced. You are the most important thing to keep safe.
This isn’t a normal time, but you can help your family by being patient, being kind, and finding ways to stay calm. You could listen to music, make up stories, share a book, draw, or play a game.
I hope none of you have to use these top tips. But I feel better knowing we had this chat.
scrapboy, Costa the Garden Gnome, and I are sending you all our love and all our best cyclone-safe hugs.
Stay safe, stay dry, and keep your emergency goggles on!
Love from, dirtgirl
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