El Nino & La Nina Project

Disaster:  Cyclone Larry

Where:  Innisfail, Queensland at latitude 17.5 south and longitude 144.5 east

Weather Statistics:  Cyclone Larry began as a Low Pressure System over the

Coral Sea but then turned into a category 5 cyclone driving right through the North East cost of Queensland.  Cyclone Larry was huge almost covering the United States and had wind speeds of 290 kilometres per our and with gusts to 310-320 kilometres per hour.  After passing the coast at Innisfail, it soon was downgraded to a category 3 cyclone and then ending at a tropical storm.

How it Affected Communities:  Cyclone Larry caused massive destruction.  The worst affected communities in terms of damage to property were those closest to the eye wall of the cyclone as this is the source of the cyclone’s power.  Flooding as result of the torrential rain left many communities isolated for several days.  Business and Industries had massive devastation and had to deal with building damage as well as disruptions in water and power supplies.  As well as this, Public Infrastructure was destroyed including railways, airports and roads making transportation incredibly difficult.

There was also mass agricultural devastation.  The banana industry was decimated by Larry which caused the destruction of 75% of the nation’s supply costing an unbelievable AU$298.4 million.  Overall, Cyclone Larry caused flooding, mass business and industry destruction, isolation and the destruction of the banana industry all resulting in AU$350 million in damage.

How the Local, State, National Government and Emergency Services Reacted:

The Local, State, National Government and Emergency Services worked together to help the devastation Cyclone Larry had left.  The Local Government provided food, water and shelter for those in the worst affected areas.  Basic household necessities were provided as well as the opening of evacuation centres and the use of search and rescue procedures.

The State Government provided brochures and broadcasts of what to do, where to go and most importantly, how to stay alive.  They also provided large quantities of resources needed to remove danger and repair the damage caused including power generators, tarps, chainsaws, fuel, earthmoving equipment, food and portable water.  Groups like the State Emergency Services (SES) provided workshops in communities to make sure people are prepared for other disasters in the near future as well as ensuring everyone that help was being provided.

The Federal Government established services to help with financial difficulties.  Emergency Management Australia (EMA) appointed Major General Peter Cosgrove to lead the overall response to Cyclone Larry.  Peter Cosgrove coordinated government departments, emergency services, the military and community groups in responding to damage over the North East of Queensland.  The Federal Government also provided expertise like search and rescue plans and drills to save those who were trapped or isolated.  They assisted by offering personnel and financial assistance to local residents, business owners and farmers.

Disaster: Victoria Bushfires/Black Saturday

Where: Across the State of Victoria

Weather Statistics: The majority of the fires ignited and spread on a day of some of the worst bushfire-weather conditions ever recorded. There were temperatures reaching a high 40 degrees Celsius and wind speeds in excess of 100 km/h. The fires were precipitated by an intense heat wave, and almost two months of little or no rain. This fanned the fires over large distances and areas creating several large firestorms particularly northeast of Melbourne. A cool change hit the state in the early evening, bringing with it huge forces of southwesterly winds going at a speed of 120 km/h. This change in wind direction caused the fires to become massive fire fronts that burned with incredible speed and ferocity towards towns that had earlier escaped the fires.

How it Affected Communities: The Black Saturday Bushfires had a major effect on the community.The fires destroyed over 2,030 houses and more than 3,500 structures in total, as well as damaging thousands more. Many towns northeast of the state capital Melbourne were badly damaged or almost completely destroyed, including Kinglake, Marysville, Narbethong, Strathewen, and Flowerdale. Many houses in the towns of Steels Creek, Humevale, Clonbinane, Wandong, St Andrews, Callignee, Taggerty, and Koornalla were also destroyed or severely damaged, with several deaths recorded at each location. The fires affected 78 individual townships in total, and displaced an estimated 7,562 people. The fire’s were just so quick, that people didn’t even see them coming.

How the Local, State, National Government and Emergency Services Reacted: Responses to the Black Saturday bushfires included immediate community response, donations and later, international aid efforts, Government inquiries including a Royal Commission and recommendations and discussions from a wide variety of bodies, organisations, authorities and communities.

The Federal parliament was suspended due to the emergency. The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, accepted an offer from the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to dispatch members of the Australian Defence Force to provide assistance in that state. Queen Elizabeth II made a donation to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Fund and sent her thoughts to the country.

The State Government conducted search and rescue parties as well as the supply of food and water. Groups like the Red Cross and The Salvation army assisted in opening evacuation centers and donation booths around the country.

The Local Government assisted in opening temporary accommodation, much of it donated in the form of spare rooms, caravans, tents, and beds in community relief centers. The Local Government assisted their towns in the clean up and building of the most destroyed areas.

View La Nina (World) in a larger map


View El Nino (World) in a larger map


View El Nino (Australia) in a larger
map


View La Nina (Australia) in a larger map