Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Troops move in to help residents in cyclone battered region of Australia
By Meraiah Foley, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, March 21, 2006 | No comments posted.
INNISFAIL, Australia - Troops began delivering aid today to an estimated 7,000 people who lost their homes to the cyclone that battered Australia's northeastern coast.
No one was killed when Category 5 Cyclone Larry came shore near Innisfail early Monday and only minor injuries were reported. But the tempest flooded streets, tore roofs off homes and flattened sugar and banana plantations.
“There most certainly would be around 7,000 people ... that are effectively homeless,” federal lawmaker Bob Katter told The Associated Press. “They're sitting in four walls but no roof.”
Katter spoke after attending a barbecue for hundreds of victims using meat from butchers that otherwise would soon start rotting. The storm left the town without power and water, and officials said it could be days before they were restored.
Rosarie Cullinane, a 24-year-old from Ireland doing temporary work in the town to fund her travels, said she and other backpackers spent Monday night huddled in their hostel wrapped in mattresses to protect them from the danger of flying broken glass.
“I never expected anything like this,” she said today. “I did hear about cyclones but I didn't think it was going to be that bad.”
President Bush called Australian Prime Minister John Howard early today to offer American help if needed.
“Of course we are able ourselves to look after this,” Howard said. “But it was a very generous, thoughtful gesture on his part and I thank him for it.”
About 170 troops were helping to deliver aid, while cleanup and special search and rescue crews were also heading to the town. Churches and community groups were setting up temporary accommodations.
Among supplies flowing in were nearly 10,500 gallons of water and 6,000 in-flight meals provided by Qantas.
Troops also set up a water purification unit, and health authorities warned residents to boil their water.
Innisfail's main street was littered with rubble from badly damaged buildings and the corrugated metal used for roofing in the region.
The storm wiped out about 10 percent of Australia's sugar crop, and would likely cost the industry $144 millionn in losses, industry officials estimated today.
Banana farmers were hit just as hard. The Australian Banana Growers Council estimated revenue losses of $253 million and 4,000 jobs gone this season.
“The whole bloody place is blown apart ... this is going to be a long, slow recovery,” Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said after visiting the town.
Police also sent extra officers to the region.
“We're mindful that looting is a possibility and we have the resources if we need to deal with it,” Superintendent Mike Keating told Seven News. There had been no reports of looting, he said.
Howard pledged aid to the shattered communities and said he would visit them Wednesday.
Meanwhile, weather forecasters warned that another cyclone, named Wati, was moving toward the Queensland coast south of where Larry struck. But the storm was currently much weaker than Larry, and may yet change direction.
The town is 60 miles south of Cairns, a popular jumping-off point for the Great Barrier Reef.
No one was killed when Category 5 Cyclone Larry came shore near Innisfail early Monday and only minor injuries were reported. But the tempest flooded streets, tore roofs off homes and flattened sugar and banana plantations.
“There most certainly would be around 7,000 people ... that are effectively homeless,” federal lawmaker Bob Katter told The Associated Press. “They're sitting in four walls but no roof.”
Katter spoke after attending a barbecue for hundreds of victims using meat from butchers that otherwise would soon start rotting. The storm left the town without power and water, and officials said it could be days before they were restored.
Rosarie Cullinane, a 24-year-old from Ireland doing temporary work in the town to fund her travels, said she and other backpackers spent Monday night huddled in their hostel wrapped in mattresses to protect them from the danger of flying broken glass.
“I never expected anything like this,” she said today. “I did hear about cyclones but I didn't think it was going to be that bad.”
President Bush called Australian Prime Minister John Howard early today to offer American help if needed.
“Of course we are able ourselves to look after this,” Howard said. “But it was a very generous, thoughtful gesture on his part and I thank him for it.”
About 170 troops were helping to deliver aid, while cleanup and special search and rescue crews were also heading to the town. Churches and community groups were setting up temporary accommodations.
Among supplies flowing in were nearly 10,500 gallons of water and 6,000 in-flight meals provided by Qantas.
Troops also set up a water purification unit, and health authorities warned residents to boil their water.
Innisfail's main street was littered with rubble from badly damaged buildings and the corrugated metal used for roofing in the region.
The storm wiped out about 10 percent of Australia's sugar crop, and would likely cost the industry $144 millionn in losses, industry officials estimated today.
Banana farmers were hit just as hard. The Australian Banana Growers Council estimated revenue losses of $253 million and 4,000 jobs gone this season.
“The whole bloody place is blown apart ... this is going to be a long, slow recovery,” Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said after visiting the town.
Police also sent extra officers to the region.
“We're mindful that looting is a possibility and we have the resources if we need to deal with it,” Superintendent Mike Keating told Seven News. There had been no reports of looting, he said.
Howard pledged aid to the shattered communities and said he would visit them Wednesday.
Meanwhile, weather forecasters warned that another cyclone, named Wati, was moving toward the Queensland coast south of where Larry struck. But the storm was currently much weaker than Larry, and may yet change direction.
The town is 60 miles south of Cairns, a popular jumping-off point for the Great Barrier Reef.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines