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Feature article

Adaptation behaviour before to the 2004/05 tropical cyclone season in the Cook Islands

Imogen Ingram, Te Pa Mataiapo, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

February 2005 will remain memorable in the Cook Island’s history as five tropical cyclones battered the small island nation in that month, one after the other. A summary of the five cyclones – Meena, Nancy, Olaf, Percy, and Rae can be found in Issue 56 of the Island Climate Update (May 2005).

Meena affected the northern part of the country, and Nancy caused havoc over the eastern coast of the main island of Rarotonga. Olaf battered the western part of Rarotonga where most of the resorts are located. Percy and Rae were not as destructive as the earlier cyclones but they did cause minor damage.

Each successive cyclone resulted in improvements to the country’s hazard planning procedures and strategies through a very steep learning process due to the frequency and close proximity of each cyclone. Although there was no loss of life from the five cyclones, there was a lot of damage to the environment, property, infrastructure, and livelihood of people, which will require considerable funds and take years to recover. The outer islands were significantly more vulnerable than the main islands, and the damage was much greater in terms of human livelihood, and the recovery will be slower.

Fortunately, there was ample warning given to the residents of the Cook Islands prior to the cyclones in order for them to prepare for the tropical cyclone season. As early as November 2004, the Cook Islands Meteorological Service (CIMS) issued a tropical cyclone outlook for the season 2004/05 (November to April). The Civil Defence Agency in the Cook Islands took heed of the cyclone outlook, and started advertising and advising the local population on measures that should be taken to ensure that they would be prepared, should a cyclone head their way. Residents were educated about some of the basic necessities that should be kept, like food, water, a transistor radio, and a torch with spare batteries, and the people of the Cook Islands took heed of this advice.

Immediately before to the onslaught of the cyclones, generally 1 to 2 days before, cyclone warnings were broadcast over the radio. This gave enough time for people to ensure that their properties were secure (by boarding the windows and tying down roofs, and evacuating immediate coastal areas where there was a threat of storm surges and swells). Those who had internet access were also given websites that provided cyclone updates and warnings. However, when the cyclone was imminent, satellite communications equipment, such as satellite dishes, were moved into storage for safe keeping which meant no communications were available.

It was different for those living in the outer islands. Residents there complained they were unable to receive the broadcasts from Radio Cook Islands, as apparently the signal strength had been reduced for economic reasons. Some residents were able to use the radios in their motor vehicles, but it was a very worrying time for most because of the uncertainty. At one point, Mr Tom Wichman, a ham radio operator, was the only means of contact with the atoll of Nassau. He had to relay the weather forecasts to his contact on Nassau at predetermined times, and for some hours there was no contact while the equipment was moved to the other side of the atoll because of high seas.

There have been other legislative introductions to ensure protection of property and life in the Cook Islands as well. Since the introduction of the 1995 Environment Act, structures within 30 m 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. Some businesses did not evacuate all their effects, and suffered damage and stock losses to sea surges. Most, however, boarded up their buildings and moved their stock and fittings into containers, which were then shifted to safety inland.

After taking into account all the precautions and preparations for the cyclones, there was nothing more the people of the Cook Islands could do, but hope that they had done everything possible. The radio station continued broadcasting on Rarotonga, sometimes receiving eyewitness reports from badly affected areas. There was also the need to urge people to stay indoors, as there was a tendency to go sightseeing. On the main island of Rarotonga, staff from the Ministry of Works contracted private firms circulated with their heavy machinery, in order 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.

Cook Islanders did prepare for the cyclones, but there were too many, and they were too close together, for them to recover quickly. Most of the country is still struggling to recover with limited funds.

The next issue of the Island Climate Update will cover the aftermath of the five cyclones and lessons learned from them.