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Australian Latter-day Saints and residents of the state of Queensland in the north were preparing themselves for Cyclone Yasi — a storm of unprecedented ferocity unlike anything seen before in the state.

Greater in magnitude than the devastating Hurricane Katrina that struck the USA-South in 2005, Cyclone Yasi is expected to cross the Great Barrier Reef and make landfall near the tourist city of Cairns around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2.

While Church members in this region are accustomed to summer cyclones and are well versed in emergency preparedness, the best advice given at this time has been for residents to evacuate low-lying homes and to head to safe houses and higher grounds where possible.

All missionaries of the Australia Brisbane Mission serving in this area are accounted for and are safe, and have been directed to safe houses to ride out the storm, said mission President Fritjof. F. Langeland.

"We have 16 missionaries serving in these affected areas, including two senior couples, and all have been directed to safe areas where they will be protected from the storms," said President Langeland. "Our Cairns missionaries who are closest to the eye of the storm are currently with the district president and his family, and are safe. The Townsville missionaries have moved to a member's home in a safe zone on higher ground, and same too for the missionaries serving in Mackay and Emerald."

Photo courtesy of NASA

Cyclone Yasi.

At its core, the cyclone already has winds of 295kmh (183 mph) that are already causing land damage even though the storm is still well out at sea. Yasi will cross the coast on the high tide, meaning the storm surge that will accompany it will be devastating for coastal low-lying areas.

Elder Dirk Smibert, Area Seventy, who resides in the state of Queensland, stated, "The Church is very carefully monitoring this situation and leaders are right now doing all they can to help prepare members for this cyclone and to minimize the damage. Of course, the greatest work to be done will be after the storm, and we are already planning on sending relief supplies to this region once transport has opened up again. For now, our most solemn prayers are with these Australians."

The State Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, has warned residents that "this impact is likely to be more life threatening than any experienced during recent generations," while her government maintains that the state is prepared with hundreds of emergency services and defense personnel lying in wait.

President Langeland also stated that his missionaries will be actively engaged in the clean-up efforts, working alongside members and other clean-up crews once the storm has passed and the damage and needs have been assessed.