Cyclone Tracy

Darwin, in the Northern Territory.

Officially, 71 people died.

Cyclone Tracy, which struck Darwin, Australia, in December 1974, had significant environmental impacts. The storm caused extensive damage to the region's vegetation, uprooting trees and destroying habitats, which led to soil erosion and altered local ecosystems. Additionally, the cyclone's winds and flooding resulted in pollution from debris and hazardous materials, further harming wildlife and water quality. The long-term effects included changes in land use and challenges in ecosystem recovery due to urban redevelopment.

35,000 people were evacuated prior to the cyclone hitting but i don't know how many people survived.

Cyclone Tracy, which struck Darwin, Australia, in December 1974, was not characterized by a specific length as cyclones are typically measured by their wind radius or diameter. However, the storm had a maximum wind speed of around 240 km/h (150 mph) and affected a region with a diameter of approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles). The cyclone is most remembered for its devastating impact rather than its physical dimensions.

Tree were uprooted

animal habitats were lost due to amount of litter in ocean & coral reefs were damage

During Cyclone Tracy, the wind gauge at Darwin Airport officially recorded winds of 217 kilometres per hour before being blown away itself. Unofficial estimates suggest that the wind speed actually reached 300 kilometres per hour.

Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia, in the early hours of Christmas Day of 1974. For a track map of the cyclone, see the link below.

i don't know but i think the cyclone dodged around the farms

Cyclone Tracy first hit Darwin just after midnight on 25 December 1974. It continued devastating the city for several hours, before dissipating about 7:00 am the next morning. The eye itself took about 35 minutes to pass. The strongest wind gusts were recorded just after 3:00am.

Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin just after midnight on Christmas Day in 1974 and lasted until about 7:00 am.

When Cyclone Tracy hit in 1974, Darwin was a city of 43,500 people living in 12,000 residences.

This figure does not include the indigenous communities within the city, or in outlying areas.

Because it is home to them and they felt they were better off rebuilding Darwin than being out of work down south. And Darwin was rebuilt. ---- It is true that, going by electoral roll figures, 60% of Darwin's population did not return following the cyclone. However, many of them were transients anyway, or commonly, public servants who were only there to do a job, not because they appreciated the environs of the town. Those who chose to remain had strong family connections or personal reasons to stay. It is important to remember that Darwin was rebuilt according to strict cyclone-proof specifications, and all new building projects since then have had to adhere to these new specifications. Some of these include the requirement that buildings be clad to protect them against flying debris, and that their roofs be tied to the foundations.

On Christmas Day, 25 December 1974, the cyclone left Darwin in shreds. The wind gauge at Darwin Airport officially recorded winds of 217 kilometres per hour before being blown away itself.

71 people were killed, and 9,000 homes destroyed, out of a city of 43,500 people living in 12,000 residences. Many buildings were not built to withstand cyclonic forces, despite being in the cyclone belt. Of the people aboard the 22 vessels at sea when the cyclone struck, 16 were never found.

Most of Darwin's residents were evacuated following the devastation, and many of them never returned. However, Darwin was rebuilt according to new building codes, and it is now regarded as a modern multicultural city of around 100,000 people.

The first response came from the Northern Territory police. They had already made emergency preparations at Darwin and Casuarina police stations. As soon as the first damage reports came in, the police were seeing to road blockages, attending medical emergencies and directing people away from fallen power lines. 150 people were taken to shelter at the police station in this first wave of damage, but they then needed to organise the use of school for shelter, because so many people had lost their homes. When many more ended up sheltering at the schools, police organised other people to help with cooking, medical help, logistics of hygiene, collecting clothing and bedding donations, etc.

A medical team also arrived with Major-General Stretton. Meanwhile, the Federal Department of Housing and Construction (in Melbourne) organised officers to begin clearing debris and restore power and communications. Electrical contractor crews cleared fallen power lines organised portable generators wherever available. The officers also worked to repair and restore water pumps and pipelines to get water and sewerage systems working again.

From 25 December, the Federal Department of Housing and Construction (in Melbourne) organised officers to begin clearing debris and restore power and communications. Electrical contractor crews cleared fallen power lines organised portable generators wherever available. The officers also worked to repair and restore water pumps and pipelines to get water and sewerage systems working again. Where houses were still intact, tarpaulins were placed over damaged roofs.

Beginning from 27 December, hundreds more police from interstate began to arrive to help out. Emergency supplies and equipment were brought to Darwin from other cities. Equipment included generators and emergency accommodation. The RAAF (Royal Australia Air Force) transport fleet helped bring in supplies to Darwin, and evacuate over 9,500 people to southern centres.

The whole city needed to be rebuilt, and there was a severe effect on both marine and inland life - coral reefs were badly damaged, trees were uprooted and many animals died or lost their habitats. It will take a long time for this to return to normal.

The meteorological department issued an alert that a tropical cyclone could occur. It was later confirmed that it was a tropical cyclone. Several warnings were issued to the people of Darwin to evacuate the area and facilities were provided by road and air. The Defense Force and the Royal Australian Air Force were called to help in the evacuation to prevent disaster due to cyclone Tracy.

Individual responses: * Some ignored the warnings - many residents chose this option because there had been previous threats of cyclones, yet Darwin had not actually been hit by a cyclone for many years, and it was also Christmas Eve - surely they wouldn't be hit at Christmas?! * Heeding the warnings and taking the suggested precautions for securing items and preparing for loss of services, e.g. water, electricity. * Evacuating early, before the cyclone hit. Afterwards, The response of the victims: Most of Darwin's residents were evacuated, and many of them chose not to return, but to rebuild their lives elsewhere. Groups and Government: * First response came from the Northern Territory police who had already made emergency preparations at Darwin and Casuarina police stations. As soon as the first damage reports came in, the police were seeing to road blockages, attending medical emergencies and directing people away from fallen power lines. 150 people were taken to shelter at the police station in this first wave of damage, but they then needed to organise the use of school for shelter, because so many people had lost their homes. When many more ended up sheltering at the schools, police organised other people to help with cooking, medical help, logistics of hygiene (such as digging latrines), collecting clothing and bedding donations, etc. * Late on Christmas night Major-General Stretton, Director of the newly formed National Disasters Organisation, arrived at Darwin to coordinate evacuations, with a team of surgeons and nurses. * The army also came to assist. There were unpleasant tasks such as searching for bodies, cleaning out refrigerators which were filled with (by now) rotting food, and having to shoot packs of starving dogs that posed a threat to the survivors. The Army and Navy were brought in to deal with these sometimes dangerous cleanup tasks. * From 25 December, the Federal Department of Housing and Construction (in Melbourne) organised officers to begin clearing debris and restore power and communications. Electrical contractor crews cleared fallen power lines organised portable generators wherever available. The officers also worked to repair and restore water pumps and pipelines to get water and sewerage systems working again. Where houses were still intact, tarpaulins were placed over damaged roofs. * Beginning from 27 December, hundreds more police from interstate began to arrive to help out. Emergency supplies and equipment were brought to Darwin from other cities. Equipment included generators and emergency accommodation. The RAAF (Royal Australia Air Force) transport fleet helped bring in supplies to Darwin, and evacuate over 9,500 people to southern centres.

Cyclone Tracy began as a tropical storm out in the Arafura Sea. It developed into a category 4 cyclone as it moved towards Australia's northern coast. On Christmas Day, 25 December 1974, Tracy made landfall and left Darwin in shreds. The cyclone passed directly over Darwin just after midnight, with its 'eye' centred on the airport and northern suburbs. The wind gauge at Darwin Airport officially recorded winds of 217 kilometres per hour before being blown away itself. Unofficial estimates suggest that the wind speed actually reached 300 kilometres per hour, making it possibly a category 5 when it made landfall. Its destruction was so great because Darwin was a bit of a ramshackle town, with many building codes not adhered to during its "boom" time, post-war. Quite simply, the buildings were not made to withstand cyclones, despite being within the cyclone belt.

Officially, 71 people were killed, and 9,000 homes destroyed, out of a city of 43,500 people living in 12,000 residences. However, unofficial estimates are much higher as these figures do not include the local indigenous populations or drifters and homeless in Darwin at that time. There were 22 vessels at sea when the cyclone struck, and of those aboard, 16 were never found.

Most of Darwin's residents were evacuated following the devastation, and many of them never returned.

Cyclone Tracy was a category 4 storm whilst still out at sea, but there is some evidence to suggest that it had reached category 5 status when it made landfall.

The wind gauge at Darwin Airport officially recorded winds of 217 kilometres per hour before being blown away itself. Unofficial estimates suggest that the wind speed actually reached 300 kilometres per hour.

Cyclone Tracy rotated in a clockwise direction, as do all cyclones in the southern hemisphere.

It was completely destroyed, and it had to be rebuilt. A link is provided for more detailed information. People had to leave the city, and some people never returned to Darwin, but stayed in other cities. When Darwin had to rebuild from scratch, it started off with far fewer people living there. The city was then rebuilt according to new building codes, and it is now regarded as a modern multicultural city of around 100,000 people. The new building codes also spread to other cyclone-prone areas of Australia. A significant development which came from the cyclone was that of the Northern Territory's self-government. Until 1974, the Northern Territory had minimal self-government, with a federal minister being responsible for the Territory from Canberra. However, the cyclone and subsequent response highlighted problems with this arrangement that led directly to the decision of Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser to grant the Territory self-government in 1978. The TC Tracy devastation and loss of life also resulted in improvements to the Australian Cyclone Warning system.

Cyclones are perfectly normal weather phenomena, common in northern parts of Australia.

Cyclone Tracy began as a depression in the Arafura Sea on 20 December 1974. It gradually moved in a southwesterly direction, whereupon it intensified. After that, it moved sharply in an east-southeasterly direction, then headed straight for Darwin.

For details on how cyclones occur, see the related links.