Case study - Cyclone Yasi
Cyclone Yasi was first detected on the 26th January 2011 by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre in Fuji. It was classified a tropical depression on the 27th January. A warning was then issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre on the 29th January. Its classification was the changed to Tropical Cyclone Yasi. By the time it had crossed into Australia it was declared to be the state’s worst cyclone in history because of its size.
All of the residents in the path of the storm were urged to evacuate by the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh. By the time the cyclone had struck 30,000 people had evacuated. Most citizens were out of the way of danger. The storm surge that was 7m had travelled 300m inland destroying many houses in its path. Houses and buildings were torn down by 209km/h winds leaving thousands homeless.
When the cyclone had ended on the 5th of February there was still mass flooding. Yasi had a 100km wide eye and was 498km wide at its peak. It was eventually classified a category 5 cyclone by the end.
Cyclone Yasi caused mass damage. The total damage was $3.6 billion with mass damages to the agriculture industry destroying all of the banana and sugar cane crops. All the bananas were at ridiculously high prices for the next year due to the lack of banana crops. Fortunately was only one death which was caused by asphyxiation, resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning from a portable generator being used in a confined space. Even a week after the flooding the affected areas were still isolated and emergency supplies had to be flown in via helicopter.
All of the residents in the path of the storm were urged to evacuate by the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh. By the time the cyclone had struck 30,000 people had evacuated. Most citizens were out of the way of danger. The storm surge that was 7m had travelled 300m inland destroying many houses in its path. Houses and buildings were torn down by 209km/h winds leaving thousands homeless.
When the cyclone had ended on the 5th of February there was still mass flooding. Yasi had a 100km wide eye and was 498km wide at its peak. It was eventually classified a category 5 cyclone by the end.
Cyclone Yasi caused mass damage. The total damage was $3.6 billion with mass damages to the agriculture industry destroying all of the banana and sugar cane crops. All the bananas were at ridiculously high prices for the next year due to the lack of banana crops. Fortunately was only one death which was caused by asphyxiation, resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning from a portable generator being used in a confined space. Even a week after the flooding the affected areas were still isolated and emergency supplies had to be flown in via helicopter.