Defence support requested for Cyclone Marcia

The Australian Defence Force is to support Queensland emergency officials with post-disaster assessment in the wake of Cyclone Marcia making land-fall earlier today.

Emergency Management Australia (EMA) has requested Defence provide support to a Queensland Government requirement for wide area surveillance and post-disaster assessment using high-resolution imagery and analysis of the area impacted by Cyclone Marcia.
 
Defence has tasked the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to dispatch an AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and a KA350 King Air tactical mobility aircraft to central Queensland to undertake imagery collection tasks as weather conditions permit.
 
Defence personnel are also liaising with Northern Territory emergency officials who are coordinating response to Cyclone Lam which passed over the north-east Northern Territory coastline earlier this morning.
           
Defence is monitoring the after-effects of both cyclones and is working closely with state and territory emergency management authorities.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by the cyclones and the resulting damage.

Media contact:
Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999