Individual's, groups' and the government's response to tropical cyclones

Cyclones can bring great havoc upon communities and towns of affected areas – devastating the physical environment, mentality of victims and also the economics. However, this total destruction of infrastructures and the environment invites rebuilding and reconstruction of affected areas. To help do this, individuals such as other Australians or those from overseas donate money to help aid the process of reconstruction of these damaged infrastructures.

Many former residents and businesses relocate further inland, away from coastal areas or areas that have a high threat of future hurricanes. For example, the population before Cyclone Tracy in 1974, was 45 000, however, during the period after the cyclone had hit, the population had diminished to 10 500.

The Australia society often work together in order to catalyse the rebuilding process so that areas return to how they were formerly like before the cyclone, as well as, helping to overcome setbacks in the economy.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) keeps constant watch over our weather, monitoring and issuing warnings to regions prone to tropical cyclones. There are three Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres that provide tropical cyclone warning services located in Darwin, Perth and Brisbane.  The well-known tropical cyclone severity categories used by the BOM to communicate warnings are based on maximum gust strengths. Therefore, societies are constantly becoming even more prepared to handle the severe impacts that cyclones can bring. A standard emergency warning is also issued, which is an audible signal that is broadcasted on media in an emergency situation to gain public attention. These are used only in areas where a community is expected to be affected by a tropical cyclone of category 2 or stronger within 12 hours.

The government’s response to the aftermath of a tropical cyclone is one of great organisation and cooperation. Once a cyclone has hit, the government immediately calls out for state of emergency, organizing airlifts involving both civilian and military aircraft, while many residents opted to drive out.

Other official organisations come together to assist with the disaster such as the State Emergency Service (SES), RAAF, Qantas, Ansett Airways, the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Navy, US Air Force and Reconstruction Committees and the sick tended by medical teams – as was the case during the reconstruction of Cyclone Tracy’s destruction in 1974.

It will always be inevitable that community based groups and non-official government groups become active in the involvement of repairing and restoring damaged and affected areas due to tropical cyclones. Many individuals work tirelessly for day and night among the havoc and working order within weeks thanks to the organisation and cooperation of both government and non-government official organisations and groups. Many of them, in order to speed up the rebuilding process, launch nation-wide and even international-wide fund raising activities and reliefs, including other initiatives, designed to assist cyclone victims. Community groups also provide food, clothing and shelter for those who are in need in the aftermaths of any tropical cyclones.