Winston, Malo–thank you for our escape! [1]
Monday, February 22, 2016 - 17:34. Updated on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - 10:34.
"Malo and thank you!", was the feeling of most people in Vava’u at the weekend, after escaping the worst of Tropical Cyclone Winston - one of the strongest cyclones to ever visit the region - when it passed Vava’u twice in one week, firstly on February 15 and returning on February 19, but without making as much damage as they feared it might.
On Monday 15 February at around 10:00am TC Winston with gale force winds of about 90km/hr was located 270km to the east north east of Vava’u and moving ENE.
On Friday 19 February on its way back moving west southwest, the intensifying monster storm was at its closest to Vava’u at noon when the eye was located 140km north northwest with a storm force winds of 130km/hr.
Tupou Tonutonu, from ‘Utulei at the entrance to the Port of Refuge harbour who lives close to the sea, said that Winston on Monday felt was stronger, but the sea was not that rough. On that first visit TC Winston brought a lot of rain.
On TC Winston's return journey on Friday, at 'Utulei the wind did not feel as strong, there was little rain and it was not very hot.
Tupou was thankful that the outcome was not as devastating as they expected, and she had many people, including babies sheltering in her house.
She said in Neiafu and Vava'u a few residential houses had lost their roofsf, but most public buildings and churches remain intact, excepting for the army headquarter at Fangatongo, which lost its roof.
Fruit trees, including breadfruit, mangoes and tava trees were either toppled or the fruit shaken knocked to the ground.
Tupou said she was proud of the Vava’u community effort to prepare for the cyclone. She said that people were out fixing their homes and helping others trim trees and prepare for the cyclone. After Winston’s first strike, the road was cleared up within a day, and electricity was back within 24 hours.
After Winston’s return visit, the roads were also cleared up within a day, and the power was back within 12 hours.
"It was a community effort from the governor through to town and district officers and the public. The army and the police were also out helping." Tupou said that it was good to see that the people did not have to sit around and wait for government to tell them what to do.
She was also very thankful for the radio broadcasters for keeping people informed during these difficult times.