Aftermath and lessons learned from the 2004/05 tropical cyclone season in the Cook Islands
Imogen Ingram, Te Pa Mataiapo, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
This article covers the aftermath of the five tropical cyclone season which affected the Cook Islands in February and discusses the relief, recovery and reconstruction. Last month’s Island Climate Update summarised the adaptation of the communities leading up to and during the cyclone season.
Relief and Recovery
One of the main impacts was the closure of the airports and roads due to debris and damages from the cyclones. The first priority of the Cook Islands Government was to open the airport and as many roads as possible so that relief items could be supplied to the rural areas for recovery and for the preparation for further cyclones. A group of 20 soldiers arrived to assist with recovery under the FRANZ agreement (France, Australia and New Zealand). Residents also cleared debris which could pose a threat during following cyclones.
The New Zealand International Aid and Development Agency provided assistance to the Cook Islands by funding Cook Island residents living in New Zealand to help with assistance and rehabilitation after the cyclones. They worked on restoring electricity, phone and water services in Rarotonga and the outer islands over a two week period.
The next priority was to provide assistance to the commercial sector and other government departments to restore infrastructure. After the five cyclones, the Cook Islands received significant international aid and assistance which almost restored life back to normal for most of the Southern Cook Islands by mid-March 2005.
However, this was not the case for the northern group atoll of Pukapuka, which was the worst to be affected by Cyclone Percy. Most buildings had lost their roofs, so residents suffered a few days of wet and cramped conditions. The immediate needs there included tents for shelter, dry clothing, water and food, and medicines. Rough seas delayed the shipping of supplies and the airport was unusable until the debris was cleared.
Pukapuka was inundated by waves, which contaminated wells and arable lands. Without roofs, it was difficult to capture rainfall so potable water supplies fell. Red Cross officials organised a shipment of fresh water from American Samoa, speeding the delivery time. FRANZ later delivered a desalinator to provide drinking water, but the reliable supply of such water has been a continuing problem.
Hydroponics had already been introduced through a Ministry of Agriculture food security program, and could provide the means to avoid long-term dependence on imported foods until traditional methods can be used again.
Cyclone Percy severely damaged the 13-year old solar energy programme on Pukapuka, as most of the photovoltaic panels sited on the roofs were dislodged. An estimated 60% of these are salvageable. Diesel generation for electricity requirements has been proposed, but given the high price of diesel and the lack of technical maintenance skills, the reinstatement of the solar energy system, perhaps with back up by wind generation, is the preferred option for this remote atoll group.
Reconstruction
The New Zealand Government has contributed nearly NZ$1.8 million in immediate response by June 2005. Disaster relief packages are available from the banks for personal and business banking customers who have suffered property damage, crucial for reconstruction as insurance against cyclone damage is not available.
The Cyclone Emergency Assistance Loan recently negotiated with the Asian Development Bank provides the government with a flexible resource to finance priority requirements in reinstating essential public services. The two-year program includes technical assistance to strengthen disaster and recovery management, including damage assessments.
The damage to infrastructure, government properties, beaches and private housing for Rarotonga alone is estimated at NZ$7 million, 7% of the annual budget for the Cook Islands government for the 2005 year of NZ$101million.
The current estimate by government of the total costs for rebuilding communities, infrastructure, services, supplies and vegetation affected by the cyclones is NZ$25 million over a 10-year period. The Cook Islands Minister of Finance believes that mere restoration is short-sighted and that reconstruction in a manner which minimizes future destruction from tropical cyclones would ensure funds have been spent more effectively.
Imogen Ingram is traditional leader in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. She was born and studied in New Zealand but resides in the Cook Islands now.