NT communities hard
Stayers’ time of terror
FOR those who remained behind in Cyclone Trevor’s destructive path, it was a terrifying experience. But it won’t be known until today just how much damage the monster storm has caused.
Thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging wind gusts laid siege to the East Arnhem coast yesterday and overnight after the cyclone reached the coast as a Category 4 system at approximately 10am yesterday.
The cyclone, which made landfall about 100km to the south east of Port McArthur, packed wind gusts up to 250km/h in its centre before breaching the coast.
Gusts of up to 140km/h were recorded at Centre Island, while gale force winds lashed Borroloola yesterday and overnight.
Severe storm surges were recorded off the Carpentaria coast, with a one and a half metre surge at Mornington Island some 200km from the centre of the system.
Heavy rains fell on coastal communities such as Numbulwar and, further inland. Ngukurr was hit with almost 100mm in less than 12 hours.
Gauges in Nhulunbuy recorded over 120mm of rain yesterday, with 90mm dumping in one torrential hour.
Although the cyclone landed as savagely as advertised, in Borroloola, the worst fears of meteorologists, emergency services and residents did not come to pass as the eye of the storm passed about 100km south of the town.
Many feared the town would be flattened, but optimism remains housing and critical infrastructure will be salvaged as the cyclone moves south west from the town.
Borroloola was fully evacuated in anticipation for the cyclone. However reports surfaced that at least two people in the town defied advice and decided not to evacuate their homes, while four people on Vanderlin Island, 100km northeast of Borroloola, also stayed put.
Regional Controller Commander Travis Wurst said of the six people who stayed in Borroloola on Friday night, four decided yesterday morning to attempt to leave.
“After some conversation directly with individuals we know that four left which is very pleasing. What they did do however, is they placed themselves at significant risk on the road. Two people chose to stay,” he said.
He said the four people were also told to tell a group of people camping along the Carpentaria Hwy to also move to safety. “They were asked by us to provide a stern message from me to them about not camping in that location,” he said. “Those campers heeded that warning and kept moving along.”
Commander Wurst said they had not been in touch with those who chose to stay on Vanderlin Island as services had been cut. “As part of our survey process we know they are there and we will endeavour go to the location and assess their state after this system has passed,” he said.
At the McArthur River Mine, 60km south of Borroloola, Josh Joyce, a storeman was bunkering down with colleagues. He told the Sunday Territorian they worked in the morning before conditions deteriorated and they were called in to shelter at 10.15am.
He said they felt safe as there had been a lot of preparation from management with the emergency rescue team there and yesterday there was a delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables. Yesterday they were watching the footy and relaxing indoors.
“We’ve got everything we need,” he said.
Mr Joyce is a FIFO worker based in Darwin and said his family was safe in Darwin.
“I think everyone is feeling good,” he said.
“I think the ones with concerns and family went home. It’s mostly just single blokes down here which is concerning so hopefully we aren’t bunkered up for too long.”