Pilbara coast on high alert for Cyclone Rusty THE massive mining port at Port Hedland has been shut down and communities along the Pilbara coast are preparing for destructive winds, major flooding and dangerous storm tides when Cyclone Rusty makes landfall tonight or tomorrow morning. A blue alert was in place yesterday for people between Broome and Whim Creek. Rusty was last night almost stationary 315km north of Port Hedland, but the Bureau of Meteorology warned it would intensify and there was a high risk it would cross the coast as a severe tropical cyclone. Joe Courtney, from the bureau's tropical cyclone warning centre, estimated Rusty was likely to become a category-three storm or higher with wind gusts of more than 200km/h across the eastern Pilbara and western Kimberley coasts. "It's much larger and slower-moving than normal, which increases the risk of very high rainfall totals and a long duration of strong winds for the coast," Mr Courtney said. The cyclone's slow pace meant it was difficult to predict where and when it would hit the mainland, although the bureau's tracking map showed it heading towards a location between Port Hedland and Wallal. At the Pardoo roadhouse, 150km north of Port Hedland, manager Gareth Gates said there were already strong winds and heavy rainfalls. He and the other staff were preparing to drive to Broome or Port Hedland if Rusty headed straight for them. "We've all got secure places to stay," Mr Gates said. All ships at anchorage or in the channel at Port Hedland port had left for safer waters by yesterday. Apache Energy shut down operations at the Stag oil field, 65km off Dampier, and evacuated all staff. Ship loading was stopped at Rio Tinto's two Dampier ports and its Cape Lambert port and the iron ore miner said it was monitoring the worsening situation closely. Woodside said it was taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of its staff and facilities in Karratha. Port Hedland's airport was still open last night, although the town council said it would start to shut down once a yellow cyclone alert was declared. Virgin Australia cancelled its flights to Broome, although flights to Port Hedland were still operating. Residents and builders were told to ensure their homes and worksites were safe and materials were tied down or stored away. The South Hedland landfill was closed, as was the Gratwick Aquatic Centre. South Hedland's Wanangkura Stadium was being prepared as a welfare centre. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned people near the Yule and Turner River catchments and near Port Hedland to prepare for possible moderate to major flooding.