Preparations are ramping up as Cyclone Alfred powers towards the Queensland and northern NSW coast, with latest updates showing the category 2 storm on course to cross the area early on Friday.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says modelling shows almost 20,000 properties across the city could be affected by storm surge or flooding, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the federal government has received a formal request to engage the Defence Force.

Insurers including IAG and Suncorp say they are ready to support customers, and the Insurance Council of Australia is liaising with the Queensland government and the National Emergency Management Agency.

ICA has postponed tomorrow evening’s townhall meeting in Ingham, north Queensland, which was arranged to support insurance customers affected by recent floods.

Mr Albanese says the government’s disaster response plan has been activated and NEMA will convene another national co-ordination mechanism meeting today.

“What that does is it brings together industry and businesses including supermarkets, banking ... insurance companies ... to ensure there is a seamless response, to ensure that industry is working hand in hand with the levels of government to make sure that we look after people.

“Prepare, take this seriously. This is a rare event. The governments across the board are taking this seriously, and Queenslanders, as well as those on the north coast of NSW, need to do so as well.”

Cr Schrinner, who spoke this morning at a press conference with the Prime Minister and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, says modelling will be updated as new information arises.

“Obviously, this is a changing situation,” he said. “It has changed in the last 48 hours, no doubt it will change going forward. At this point in time … almost 20,000 properties have the potential to be impacted by some form of inundation or flooding. A number of those suburbs are along the Moreton Bay … but there are other suburbs inland as well that could potentially be impacted.”

The Bureau of Meteorology’s cyclone update at 1.40pm today says Alfred is expected to cross the southeast Queensland coast, with impacts increasing from tomorrow.

It had sustained winds near the centre of 95km/h, with gusts to 130km/h, and was estimated to be 335km east of Brisbane and 310km east-northeast of Gold Coast.

“Alfred is a category 2 cyclone, and is forecast to maintain this intensity as it approaches the southeast Queensland coast on Thursday. Alfred is expected to cross the coast early Friday morning, most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta,” the update says.

The bureau will provide another update by 5pm AEST.

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