Cyclone threat to Darwin

THE Northern Territory's disaster co-ordinator says he is confident homes and buildings in Darwin will withstand the force of cyclone Carlos if it back-tracks after forming into a category 1 storm north of the city yesterday.

By InvestSMART · 17 Feb 2011

By InvestSMART ·
17 Feb 2011

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Peter Davies, chief executive of the NT Counter Disaster Council, said homes built to the code after cyclone Tracy were expected to be strong enough even if Carlos strengthened into a category 2 system overnight and returned to slam into the city.

After torrential rain and fierce winds caused chaos across the Top End over 24 hours, Mr Davies said he was more worried about people getting into trouble on flooded roads and while clearing fallen trees in stormy conditions.

Dozens of houses and cars were flooded and trees and power lines came down as more than 340 millimetres of rain fell on Darwin in the 24 hours before the formation of Carlos, which is expected to pack winds of up to 130km/h as it develops over the southern parts of the Tiwi Islands today.

NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson last night warned Darwin residents to expect category 1 cyclone winds and rain for at least the next 12 hours.

Two flood evacuation centres were open for residents to spend the night. Emergency service crews received more than 2000 calls.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What is Cyclone Carlos and where is it expected to affect Darwin?

Cyclone Carlos formed north of Darwin and was developing over the southern parts of the Tiwi Islands. It was expected to bring cyclone-strength winds and heavy rain to Darwin and the Top End as it tracked back toward the city.

How strong are the winds and how much rain has Darwin already received from Cyclone Carlos?

Officials reported more than 340 millimetres of rain fell on Darwin in the 24 hours before Carlos formed. Carlos was expected to pack winds of up to about 130 km/h as it developed over the Tiwi Islands.

Will homes and buildings in Darwin withstand Cyclone Carlos?

Northern Territory disaster coordinator Peter Davies said he was confident that homes and buildings in Darwin would withstand Carlos. He noted that houses built to the building code introduced after Cyclone Tracy were expected to be strong enough even if Carlos briefly strengthened to a category 2 system.

What immediate hazards should Darwin residents be most worried about during the cyclone?

The article highlights flooding of houses and cars, fallen trees, and downed power lines. Officials were particularly worried about people getting into trouble on flooded roads and about the safety risks of clearing fallen trees in stormy conditions.

Has the Northern Territory government issued any cyclone warnings or timelines?

Yes. NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson warned residents to expect category 1 cyclone winds and rain for at least the next 12 hours as Carlos impacted the Darwin region.

Are evacuation centres open in Darwin because of Cyclone Carlos?

Two flood evacuation centres were opened for residents to spend the night while the cyclone and its associated flooding affected the area.

How busy are emergency services during Cyclone Carlos?

Emergency service crews were extremely busy, receiving more than 2,000 calls during the period of torrential rain and fierce winds across the Top End.

What does the article say about building standards and long‑term storm resilience in Darwin?

The article points out that homes built to the post‑Tracy building code are expected to offer much better protection. Officials cited those construction standards as a key reason they were confident many Darwin buildings would withstand Carlos’ winds, underscoring the role of updated codes in storm resilience.