Residents in Port Hedland have begun to assess the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Heidi while it continues to cause wild weather through Western Australia's Pilbara region.
The category 2 cyclone crossed the Pilbara coast to the east of Port Hedland about 4.30am (WST) on Thursday.
Heidi is now 55km south of Port Hedland and is moving south-southwest at 12km/h.
A red alert is still in place for coastal areas from Pardoo to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and South Hedland, where residents have been told to remain indoors.
However, the warning from Dampier to Whim Creek, including Roebourne, Pt Samson and Karratha, has been cancelled.
Port Hedland mayor Kelly Howlett said that although the intensity of the wind was lessening, the area was now being affected by lots of rain.
"Some people have had flooding in their roofs, and electrical faults," she said.
"There are about 2000 houses without power at the moment and lots of trees have fallen down too."
Ms Howlett said the category 2 cyclone was not as disastrous as Cyclone George in 2007, which was a category 5 cyclone that caused destructive damage and claimed three lives.
"There was still a significant amount of noise though for a category 2 cyclone but everyone was well prepared for it," she said.
Ms Howlett said she expected the red alert to remain in place until midday when the full extent of the damage would be properly assessed.
The Bureau of Meteorology says gales with gusts to 120km/h are still occurring in some areas.
Destructive winds with gusts to 130km/h were also felt during the night.
Heavy rainfall up to 250mm are also likely across the central and eastern Pilbara.
Tides along the Pilbara coast will be higher than normal although the threat of dangerous storm tide has now passed, the bureau says.
Port Hedland's airport and bulk export port remain closed.
Mining firms across the region have also sent home all non-essential workers.
Tropical Cyclone Heidi is the second cyclone of the season for the WA region but is the first to affect the mainland.
