Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs The brief doubling back of Cyclone Alfred gifted residents of NSW’s northern coast a brief reprieve from lashing rains and damaging winds, but the warnings remained clear: the time to prepare is almost over, and thousands must be ready to evacuate.Daredevil surfers sprinted into the maelstrom of waves whipped up by an eight-foot swell and strong wind at Main Beach in Byron Bay and drew crowds so large there was a queue for the beach’s carpark on Thursday morning while the skies remained calm.Spectators battered by waves at Brunswick Heads.Credit: Nick MoirWaves have already eaten away sand at Brunswick Heads and Tallow Beach, south of Byron. Experts fear the slow-moving cyclone will generate destructive, long-lasting surf that could severely erode beaches and leave the coast more exposed to flooding.“It’s a lot of [2022] flood vibes around the area; everyone’s kind of like, ‘okay, we’re in this again’, but it’s going to be a little different,” said Josh Davies, a resident of the Byron Bay area for 23 years.“Everyone’s had at least four or five days’ notice. The biggest stress last time was that there was a lack of communication and very, very slow response from the army, the SES, the council, the government, it’s like they were scrambling.“Now there’s plenty of communication … it’s way better than being caught with your pants down.”Coastal erosion at Brunswick Heads rockwall.Credit: Nick MoirWater has started to flood Childe Street at Belongil Beach, a strip of luxury properties and high-end beach houses between the seething ocean and a swollen Belongil Creek.The Belongil area has been issued with a “prepare to evacuate” flood warning, as have beachside enclaves from Kingscliff to Brunswick Heads, and most of Ballina, including the CBD. About 5pm the SES issued an emergency warning for Fingal Head and a raft of inland areas including Lismore, Kyogle and Uki, urging people to evacuate by 9pm.
