On the ground Report
Five Cyclones Hit in Four Weeks
by: Imogen P. Ingram, Te Pa Mataiapo of Rarotonga, Cook Islands
During February 2005, the Cook Islands suffered five cyclones during a four week period. Cyclone Meena struck on the 6th of February, mostly affecting the northern part of the island, where the main town of Avarua is situated. Cyclone Nancy struck just one week later, affecting the east coast severely. Two days later, Cyclone Olaf arrived, which affected the western part fo the island, where most of the bigger resorts are located. Two weeks later, Cyclone Percy's effects were felt, and lastly Cyclone Rae arrived only three days later.
Everybody agreed that it was a time when they experienced a steep learning curve, and that each successive cyclone resulted in refinements to their planning. There was no loss of life, but a lot of damage to buildings and much debris which needed clearing up afterwards. On Rarotonga, serious damage was confined to about 60 of the estimated 4,000 households. Assessments of damage to structures in the Outer Islands have not been finalised, yet the effects on these islands were more severe and recovery will be slower.
Successful adaptation behaviour
It was fortunate that plenty of warning had been received by residents of Rarotonga. As early as November 2004, Mr Arona Ngari of the Cook Islands Meteorological Office warned that there was a 50% chance of a cyclone affecting the group this season. There were also timely reminders of the civil defence advertising in telephone directories about the necessity to keep food and water supplies for two to three days, a transistor radio and torch together with batteries, and for packing a bag with essentials in case of evacuation. Immediately prior to the onslaught, there were several days notice, during which radio warnings were broadcast regularly, urging people to board up their windows, tie down their roofs and evacuate if they were within 100 metres of the coast.
Since the introduction of the 1995 Environment Act, structures within 30 metres of the mean high water mark had to be elevated, so that storm sea surge damage would be minimised. It is believed that this adaptation to the building regulations saved a lot of dwellings, as evidenced by the piles of coral rocks surrounding many seaside residences.
During the cyclones
After taking all the precautions that were possible, there was nothing for it but to sit and wait. The radio station continued to broadcast on Rarotonga, sometimes receiving eyewitness reports from badly affected areas. There was also a need to urge people to stay indoors, as there was a tendency to go sightseeing. On the main island of Rarotonga, the Ministry of Works and staff contracted private firms to circulate with their heavy machinery to keep the roads cleared. It was an amazing and heartwarming sight to see the orange lights of a bulldozer drive by at the height of Cyclone Nancy, clearing the road of fallen trees and other debris.
Aftermath
Immediately after the cyclone, the Minister for Disaster Management advised that the top priority was to ensure that the airport and roads were clear and functioning. Next in priority came assistance to the private commercial sector, before assistance could be given to householders. This was generally acceptable, because people felt their livelihoods would otherwise be at risk. As Cook Islanders are for the most part very resilient, householders checked on their neighbours and then set about clearing up the smaller debris in their yeards, which could become projectiles in the next cyclone. By the time of the third cyclone, householders were starting to weary of so much cleaning up.