<
https://theconversation.com/fifty-years-ago-cyclone-tracy-devastated-darwin-the-lessons-from-it-have-still-not-been-learnt-244168>
"It is hard to comprehend the force with which Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin
early on Christmas Day, 1974. It was so ferocious that it killed 66 people,
partly or completely destroyed 10,000 homes, and wiped out most public
utilities.
In its wake, at the height of the wet season, the town was left with no
electricity, no reliable water supply and no sewerage. Thousands of people were
made homeless overnight.
When the rest of Australia learned what had happened, an unprecedented recovery
operation began. Fear of disease prompted a mass evacuation. Of the 47,000
people in Darwin that Christmas, 23,000 were evacuated by air to other cities
within a week. Others left by road. By New Year’s Day, the population was down
to 11,000. Many evacuees never returned, with some too traumatised to think of
ever living in Darwin again.
With the 50th anniversary of the disaster this year, Cyclone Tracy is receiving
a lot of attention. Books, documentaries, exhibitions and memorials are in the
news as Darwin remembers one of the worst natural disasters in Australia’s
history.
Despite all this attention, many newcomers have little idea about what to do in
the event of a cyclone. Media, government and employers play an important role
informing people of the appropriate precautions and responses, but the history
of major cyclones in the Top End is little known, even among long-term locals.
This history needs to be better understood."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
