As they cyclone is still heading across the state and the full impact isn't really known, I'd just like to say a few things about communication in the aftermath of a cyclone.

Power is out to quite a large area (estimated around 180,000 people but expected to increase as further reports arrive). HV transmission lines are out and severe damage is expected. Power is expected to be out for at least days, and in some areas weeks.

There are several hundred mobile phone towers operating on their generators which have enough fuel for 6-8 hours of operation. Similarly landline exchanges are without power and operating off generators, although they typically have longer fuel supplies. A handful of mobile phone sites have been taken completely offline in the worst effected areas, but this is not unexpected.

Broadcast transmission is expected to be disrupted. With the power out there is some concern over whether radio transmitters will have enough fuel to continue transmitting.

The ABC (Australia's national broadcaster) is using Shortwave to broadcast into the affected areas. This is a very unusual situation in Australia. There are 3 domestic shortwave transmitters used normally for very remote areas of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, but never for highly populated cities. Very few people have shortwave capable radios.