With 24 hours remaining until the largest storm to ever cross the Australian coast made landfall and with it tracking directly for Cairns, Queensland Health made the decision to evacuate the existing Cairns Base Hospital. Those patients that could be discharged were and all bar emergency medical cases were suspended. This left 205 patients including 10 Intensive Care cases requiring airlifting out of Cairns.

APP’s volunteer team were first on the site at the main Staging Area - the International Terminal at Cairns Airport. The Arrivals Hall was turned into a makeshift ward and the entire evacuation process involved cooperation from State and Federal Police, the Queensland Ambulance Service, the State Emergency Service, the Royal Australian Air Force as well as local staff from both the Hospital and the Airport. The largest medical evacuation in Australia’s history was complete by 6am - in just 14 hours’ time TC Yasi would be creating her own part of Australia’s history.