The Townsville Local Disaster Management Group is on alert and making final preparations for Cyclone Anthony.

All emergency services in the city are in a high state of readiness to respond to the effects of Cyclone Anthony.

Latest advice from the Bureau of Meteorology has Cyclone Anthony tracking towards a coastal crossing in the Townsville region on Sunday night or early Monday morning.

The TLDMG met today to coordinate preparations and will activate the Bamford Lane coordination centre after its next meeting at 9am tomorrow.

Chairman Cr Les Tyrell said the TDLMG was liaising closely with Emergency Management Queensland and the district disaster management group on a broader response.

Cr Tyrell urged residents to continue to make their own preparations by clearing, drains, gutters and loose items in yards.

“It is vital that residents take the threat seriously and use whatever fine weather we have over the next 24 hours to prepare for Cyclone Anthony,” Cr Tyrell said.

“It is important for people to remember that the safest place is their own home, but if they feel unsafe they should make arrangements to go to a friend or relative.

“The advice we have received from the Bureau is predicting winds of up to 125km per hour and at least 24 hours of heavy rain. People especially in low lying areas of the city should be prepared for localised flooding.”

Cr Tyrell said sand and sand bags were available for residents at the SES headquarters at Green Street in West End.

Residents can obtain more information on the cyclone and advice for preparations on the Council’s public website www.townsville.qld.gov.au. For urgent enquiries they can contact the Council’s after hours number 4727 9000.

Townsville City Council has set up a dedicated disaster information page on Facebook (Townsville Disaster Information) as well as a Twitter account (@TCC_News).