Post by freedomrules3 on Mar 21, 2006 20:46:40 GMT -5
Cyclone Leaves 7,000 Homeless in Australia
Troops Arrive With Aid to Devastated Area
By MERAIAH FOLEY, AP
INNISFAIL, Australia (March 21) - Troops began delivering aid Tuesday 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 ashore near Innisfail early Monday, and only minor injuries were reported. But the storm 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 Tuesday. "I did hear about cyclones but I didn't think it was going to be that bad."
"The whole bloody place is blown apart ... this is going to be a long, slow recovery."
-Peter Beattie, Queensland premier
President Bush called Australian Prime Minister John Howard early Tuesday 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 Tuesday.
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.
articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060319030009990004&_mpc=news%2e10%2e1&cid=842
Troops Arrive With Aid to Devastated Area
By MERAIAH FOLEY, AP
INNISFAIL, Australia (March 21) - Troops began delivering aid Tuesday 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 ashore near Innisfail early Monday, and only minor injuries were reported. But the storm 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 Tuesday. "I did hear about cyclones but I didn't think it was going to be that bad."
"The whole bloody place is blown apart ... this is going to be a long, slow recovery."
-Peter Beattie, Queensland premier
President Bush called Australian Prime Minister John Howard early Tuesday 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 Tuesday.
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.
articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060319030009990004&_mpc=news%2e10%2e1&cid=842
