HOUSES built before 1985 are unlikely to survive Cyclone Ita, with authorities warning locals those homes would be lifted and become flying debris that could “cut people in half”.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services northern regional director Wayne Coutts says locals living in dwellings built before 1985 “should think seriously about relocating to another location”.

ROLLING COVERAGE: Cyclone Ita stronger than Yasi

IN PICTURES: Tropical Cyclone Ita

The ferocious path of a monster

With the weather bureau confirming Ita is expected to be more powerful than 2011’s devastating Cyclone Yasi, Mr Coutts said residents from Cape Sidmouth to Innisfail, including Cooktown, Hopevale, Port Douglas and Cairns should now finalise preparations and bunker down.News_Image_File: Cooktown residents at the cylone evacuation centre. Picture: Brian CasseyAs many as 600 locals are expected to cram into the Cooktown Cyclone Shelter at the PCYC Cooktown Events Centre, while more than half of the town’s 2300 population have reportedly evacuated south in a mass exodus away from the eye of the cyclone.

Mr Coutts said the evacuation centre was a place of last resort and that staying with family and friends should be locals’ first option.

One person who has already move to the evacuation centre is 18-year-old Samantha Midgley, who is there with her two pets.

“Our house is going to get obliterated,’’ she said.

“I’m really scared. It’s the fear of what is to come.’’

Meanwhile, Barrie Hunter, 74, who lives on top of Grassy Hill, has sought safety in a World War II concrete bomb shelter, dubbed Hell’s Gate.

“It could withstand a nuclear strike,’’ said the long-term Cooktown resident.

“This cyclone will probably be as close to an atom bomb as I will ever see.’’

News_Image_File: Barrie Hunter is preparing to bunker down with his dog Codi and bottles of rum in Hell’s Gate. Picture: Brian Cassey. The beachcomber plans to sit out the storm with four bottles of rum, a radio and his dog.

“I’m going to have the wildest old time.’’

Police Acting Superintendent Rhys Newton said 25 officers deployed to Cooktown would be bunkered down as winds hit 80km/h.

“There is a significant challenge ahead for this community,’’ he said.

“Priority is life. And the protection of life.

“By morning, there will be so much debris, we will not be able to move to the corner without getting four flat tyres.

Click here for more information about cyclone preparation

He said some downed powerlines would still possibly be live and a lethal hazard.

“Assume everything on the ground is live even after the power goes down.

Telecommunications are likely to be cut to landlines and mobile networks by the storm.

Radio and satellite phones would be the only lifeline to the outside world with access to the airport and roads severed by flooding.News_Image_File: This Cooktown resident stocks up with the last of the ice. Picture: Brian Cassey

As winds increase, wheelie bins are expected to become airborne and tin roofing on some of the 250 older buildings built pre-1985 building regulations would be lifted and become flying debris once winds reach 100km/h.

“No-one should be out on the streets in that. There is a high risk of getting cut in half by flying sheets of iron,’’ Supt Newton said.

Vehicles are likely to be rolled and lifted in winds exceeding 200km/h.

The “great unknown’’ is the devastating havoc that 300km/h winds will wreak on top of a 2m-high storm surge, 10m-high waves, a high tide and flash flooding predicted in the Endeavour River.

The last and only cyclone of this extremely destructive force was Cyclone Mahina in 1899 when a 14.6m tsunami swept 5km inland as it made landfall in almost the same predicted track of Cyclone Ita near Cape Melville.News_Rich_Media: Cooktown residents have left their homes to seek shelter in an evacuation centre.

Locals say 307 victims were buried in the same pit, with a plaque of their names at Cape Melville, in the nation’s worst natural disaster in terms of loss of life.

More than 50 pearling luggers and schooners were destroyed and dolphins were found stranded more than 15m up on cliffs.

Mr Coutts urged Cooktown residents fleeing their homes to first turn off all electricity, gas and water, unplug all appliances and “lock your doors”.

``Ensure your family members are wearing strong shoes and suitable clothing, take your emergency kit and put your evacuation plan into action.

“If you are visiting or holidaying in Queensland and do not have family or friends to shelter with, contact your accommodation manager immediately.’’