UPDATE: POWER has been restored to all homes in Pormpuraaw for the first time this week after the community’s electricity network was left badly damaged by Tropical Cyclone Nora.

About 500 customers in the isolated communities of Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama and Mapoon lost power in the last week with Ergon Energy having to airlift crews, generation, all-terrain vehicles and equipment in to isolated communities cut off due to flooding.

media_camera Shane Edwards and family in Piithamp Street In Pormpuraaw where downed trees narrowly missed homes during category-3 Nora

An Ergon Energy spokeswoman praised the efforts of all those involved.

“Initially, we had to wait for the weather to ease and it was safe to fly and land on local airstrips,” she said.

“We really appreciated the community’s patience under the circumstances.

“Our crews have exceeded expectations by getting the poles and wires back up and restoring power to the isolated community before the Easter break,” she said.

“Ergon Energy is immensely grateful for the support of the Council, police, State Emergency Service and community members.”

media_camera Pormpuraaw Police out and about inspecting the damage around the police station. Aftermath of Cyclone Nora at Pormpuraaw.

media_camera Damage from Cyclone Nora at Pormpuraaw. PHOTO: Liam Hartley

EARLIER: ABOUT 480 homes are without power at Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama as a result of Tropical Cyclone Nora.

An Ergon Energy spokeswoman said three of the main feeders that supply electricity to Kowanyama were de-energised overnight for public safety reasons after reports of sparking.

“Weather permitting, we will send crews in to Kowanyama inspect the network today,” she said.

media_camera Ergon Energy will fly crews and equipment in to areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Nora tomorrow morning. PICTURE: Queensland Police Service

“At the moment 230 customers remain without power at Pormpuraaw - the plan is to fly a dozen crew members, equipment and generation to Pormpuraaw this morning, but it all depends on the weather conditions.”

An Ergon Energy crew was able to fly in to Mapoon yesterday and restore power to 30 customers who were the first to lose power in this event on Saturday.

Cyclone Nora weakens, but threat not over Cyclone Nora weakens, but threat not over

EARLIER: GENERATORS will be deployed in areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Nora this morning to power up critical services.

After a break in the weather, an Ergon Energy crew was able to land in Mapoon today where they restored power to around 30 customers this afternoon.

But an Ergon Energy spokeswoman said more than 230 customers in the community of Pormpuraaw remain without power.

media_camera Ergon Energy will fly crews and equipment in to areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Nora tomorrow morning. PICTURE: Queensland Police Service

“Today’s wild weather prevented aircraft from transporting our crews and equipment to the community, where the electricity network has been badly damaged,” she said.

The spokeswoman said more crews would be sent to the Cape York communities in the morning.

“Tomorrow morning we hope to be given the all clear to fly crews and equipment in to being the restoration effort,” she said.

“We have five aircraft on standby in Cairns to carry cargo and people.

“A dozen Far northern crew members will be part of the first wave response.

“As a priority, we will deliver generation to get critical services, like the sewage treatment plant, back up and running.”

media_camera A satellite view of Tropical Cyclone Nora over the Gulf of Carpentaria (Supplied: BOM)

EARLIER: Health authorities have confirmed that no one has been killed nor seriously injured from Cyclone Nora, after the category 3 storm crossed the Western Cape coast this morning.

A Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service spokesman said the region had been very lucky not to have been significantly impacted by the severe weather event.

“We’ve had no reports of any injuries in our communities of Pormpuraaw or Kowanyama, or further north,” he said.

“All our staff are also safe.

“We’d like to thank our communities, our staff, the emergency services, police and the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, for all working cooperatively to ensure we were well prepared for this event.”

The health service’s two clinics in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama suffered only superficial damage when the cyclone made landfall earlier this morning.

media_camera Damage from Cyclone Nora outside Pormpuraaw's health clinic. Photo: Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service

The service’s spokesman said full structural assessments of both facilities would be made in coming days.

“Both clinics have full power, full generator power, and communications,” he said.

“Both clinics will reopen tomorrow as normal and our staff are always ready to respond to any emergencies.

“We have arrangements in place to fly in additional staff as required, once the local airports are fully opened.”

More than 20 people evacuated from the Western Cape communities on Friday are expected to be flown home from Cairns later in the week.

Ergon Energy has confirmed that the electricity network in Pormpuraaw has been smashed by Cyclone Nora.

media_camera Fallen powerlines in Pormpuraaw from Cyclone Nora. Photo: Ergon Energy

An Ergon spokesman said multiple aircraft were on standby to transport crews and equipment to the indigenous community, but weather conditions where hampering the restoration effort.

“At this stage, that may not be until tomorrow,” he said.

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EARLIER: A carpenter sheltering from Cyclone Nora has described the moment the category 3 storm made landfall in the Far North, shredding a backyard shed to pieces.

Liam Hartley and his colleagues were sheltering from the severe storm in a brick home at Pormpuraaw, 670km northwest of Cairns, when Nora crossed the Western Cape coastline earlier this morning.

media_camera Damage from Cyclone Nora at Pormpuraaw. PHOTO: Liam Hartley

The Mareeba based contractor, who arrived in the indigenous community on Wednesday, said the wind started to pick up about 8pm last night.

“There was some very strong gusts and stuff around 9pm, and then about 1am the wind died down and the eye must have come over us,” he said.

“It picked up again about 2am.”

Mr Hartley, 20, filmed the corrugated iron shed in the yard of the home where they were sheltering being torn to pieces by cyclone’s fury.

He said when the storm passed, most of the damage in the town appeared to be vegetation that had been uprooted.

media_camera Damage from Cyclone Nora at Pormpuraaw. PHOTO: Liam Hartley

“Most of the damage is big trees down, like mango trees and fig trees,” he said.

“Some trees came down on the local shop and the council building.

“There are also some powerlines down, and they’ll be down for a few days.

“No one’s injured as far as I know.”

media_camera Damage from Cyclone Nora at Pormpuraaw. Photo: Liam Hartley

He said the storm did not appear to be as powerful as Cyclone Larry, which made landfall in northern Queensland in March 2006, or Cyclone Yasi which ravaged the region in February 2011.

“It was a bit different because it just came straight over the top of us,” he said.

“I’ve never been in the path of a cyclone before.

“She was a bit strong.”

He said he and his colleagues would remain in the community this week to assist with the clean-up from the cyclone.

Cyclone Nora has been downgraded to a category 2 storm after crossing the coast, but heavy rainfall and wind gust warning remain in place for far north inland Queensland.

SES leaders and extra police have been deployed to remote communities to assist.