Cyclone Tracy

Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated Darwin, Australia, from December 24 to December 25, 1974. It was recorded by The Age as being a "disaster of the first magnitude...without parallel in Australia's history." It killed 65 people and destroyed over 70 percent of Darwin's buildings, leaving over 20,000 people homeless. Most of Darwin's population was evacuated to Adelaide, Whyalla, Alice Springs and Sydney, and many never returned to Darwin. The town was subsequently rebuilt with modern materials and techniques. Cyclone Tracy was at least a Category 4 storm, although there is evidence to suggest that it had reached Category 5 when it made landfall at Darwin.

The health and essential services crisis

As soon as the worst of the storm had passed, Darwin faced an immediate health crisis. On Christmas Day, the Darwin Hospital treated 500 patients, with 112 having to be admitted, and both operating theatres being busy for almost 24 hours straight. Local teams had to work without relief until the arrival of two surgical teams from Canberra late that day. Those that were considered to be unable to return to work within two weeks were evacuated by air.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All official communications out of Darwin were wrecked. The antennas at the Australian Coastal Radio Service station VID were down. Station manager Bob Hooper, an Amateur Radio operator, was one of the Amateurs who established communications using his own equipment. Several operators provided message services to Perth, Melbourne, and Townsville. Soon afterward, VID operators went onboard the MV NYANDA in Darwin harbour and then for five days official communications traffic in and out of Darwin was handled there on CW.

Related Topics:
Antennas - Australian Coastal Radio Service - VID - Amateur Radio - Perth - Melbourne - Townsville - CW

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Those that remained in Darwin faced a new threat: disease. Approximately 30,000 people were homeless and fitting into makeshift housing and emergency centres. The city was without water, electricity or sanitation. Volunteers came in from across the country to assist with the emergency effort. Trench latrines were dug, water supplies delivered by tankers, and mass immunisation programs begun. The army was given the task of cleaning out rotting contents from fridges and freezers across the city, which was completed within a week. The city itself was sprayed with malathion, in order to control mosquitoes and similar pests.

Related Topics:
Latrine - Malathion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Attempts to reconnect essential services to the city began on Boxing Day. Officers from the Federal Department of Housing and Construction began clearing debris and working to restore power. They sealed off damaged water hydrants and activated pumps to reactivate the city's water and sewerage systems.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~