The clean-up is continuing in WA's Pilbara region for towns impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Zelia, but the road to recovery is still far from over. Major highways connecting towns with the rest of the state remain closed amid concerns food supplies are running low further north.
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00:00Trees down, debris scattered and roads flooded.
00:08In Port Hedland, the clean-up from ex-tropical cyclone Zelia continues.
00:13For Cassandra and Richard, getting their home back to normal won't be easy.
00:18They came out yesterday to assess, but the job's too big for them.
00:22We hope to have it removed in about a week's time.
00:25Others removing debris themselves.
00:27I just did a run to the tip with a whole lot of branches coming from the neighbours.
00:31I just did a run there.
00:33The council urging residents to be patient as damage is assessed and prioritised.
00:39I understand that everyone wants things done in a hurry, but unfortunately we've got a
00:42massive town site to be looking after.
00:44SES are doing the best they can.
00:46We've got extra staff up recently for them as well, so do us a favour that they're here
00:50to help us work with them and not against them.
00:52Please don't think we've forgotten you.
00:54We do know about these jobs.
00:55We will get to you as soon as we can.
00:57We're also obviously continuing to think about our friends at the De Grey and Kalindi stations.
01:05Our understanding is that they've received extensive damage.
01:08I don't think the team's on the ground yet to assess that, but obviously we'll be making
01:13sure that we can assist those stations as quickly as possible.
01:17The flooding has forced the closure of highways to Broome and Marble Bar, and with supplies
01:23already running out across the Kimberley, the closure of this highway is becoming a
01:28major concern.
01:29I was out at the Coongan crossing this morning from Marble Bar to Headland, and there's a
01:36sandbank 10 metres high, stretches for 100 metres, right through the middle of the highway,
01:42and there is a lot of debris, a lot of pulled up tarmac.
01:46Across the Kimberley, supermarket shelves are empty, with trucks driving the long way
01:51around to get supplies in.
01:53When the Great Northern Highway will be reopened is still unclear.
01:57No, no indication at this stage.
01:59As I said, the De Grey catchment floods are yet to reach peak, so we expect that inundation
02:05to continue for some time.
02:08At the port, it's back to business at the world's biggest iron ore hub after a four-day
02:13shutdown.
02:14A return to normal too at the airport, welcoming back the first commercial flights.
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