A slow-moving tropical storm crossed islands off Australia’s heavily populated eastern coast late Friday, lashing coastal suburbs with destructive winds and dumping heavy rain across the region.

A kangaroo called “Skippy" was rescued after Tropical Cyclone Alfred recently battered Australia, producing heavy rains and flash flooding along the coast.

My message today, and we do have a bit of rain left to go, is overwhelmingly you must always put your safety first. That's number one in a disaster. Property can be replaced, people can't."