What could have happened after Katrina

With Drunky McStagger's visit to Australia coming hard on the heels of last week's second anniversary of the devastation of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina, it's certainly apropos to consider how things might have been different had the Katrina relief effort been handled, say, by the government of Australia, circa 1974.

On Christmas Day that year, the city of Darwin, capital of Australia's Northern Territory, was flattened by Cyclone Tracy, a Category 4 behemoth that made a direct -- and completely unexpected -- hit on the coastal city. The storm was thought to be passing Darwin to the northwest, and so as late as December 23, no significant preparations had been made for Tracy's onslaught. Only a sudden and historically unprecedented turn to the east (see map) gave Darwin any notice whatsoever, and that happened too late for many to flee the remote city. Cyclone Tracy killed 71 people and caused nearly a billion Australian dollars in damage.

Darwin's location and the extent of the destruction made it extremely difficult for any relief efforts, private or public, to take place. Certainly Darwin was in at least as bad a condition as New Orleans was following Katrina, and the American government was in far better position both financially and logistically to address the tragedy in New Orleans, albeit that city was ten times the size of Darwin in 1974. So think about the U.S. response to Katrina as you read this account of the Australian relief effort, courtesy of the Northern Territory Library, in Tracy's aftermath:

Immediately news of the cyclone reached the wider Australian community, fund raising and "in kind" help efforts began. Community groups of all kinds launched fund raising activities, and other initiatives designed to give practical help to cyclone victims - often by "adopting" members of kindred Darwin groups.

Within the Territory some of the first news of the disaster was conveyed by motorists driving away from Darwin - many in cars not really fit for travel beyond the suburbs. Every Stuart Highway community quickly organised itself to meet Darwin refugees, and to provide food, rest, mechanical aid, and fuel. At Adelaide River the small local population achieved the immense task of providing a hot meal for every person who stopped there.

Major reception centres were set up at Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. Accommodation was provided at Alice Springs, and arrangements were made for journeys to be completed by air, while cars were railed south. By late on Boxing Day, 26 December, the people of Alice Springs had raised over $105,000 for immediate cash assistance for cyclone victims.

Beyond the Territory, even before news of the disaster was broadcast, radio and television programs were interrupted with announcements recalling armed services personnel from leave. This led to widespread concern that a war had broken out, and the concern was not allayed for several hours.

At each major airport refugees were greeted by Salvation Army and Red Cross workers. Clothing depots were improvised inside the airports, so that those who had flown out in pyjamas or without shoes were able to at least dress respectably before venturing further afield.

Information centres were set up in each state, with the Red Cross taking particular responsibility for maintaining lists of names of refugees and their temporary addresses. Newspapers were published for Darwin refugees, often containing reassuring personal news. Public housing waiting lists were waived so that Darwin families were given priority in allocation of accommodation.

One of the first interstate responses occurred at a Boxing Day test cricket match. During an adjournment in the game players from both teams moved around the boundaries, carrying buckets into which the crowd threw cash for the relief fund.

Support came from even further afield. Some of the world's poorest countries (e.g. Bangladesh, Lesotho) sent money and messages, as did Australia's traditional friends and allies.

Long term Darwin resident and psychologist Ted Milliken says that the overwhelmingly compassionate response of people and organisations throughout Australia "was important in minimising for all Darwin's people the stress of the circumstances of the days of their greatest need. Despair was not a necessary concomitant of devastation."

Major-General Alan Stretton, Director-General of Australia's Natural Disasters Organisation (basically the equivalent of FEMA, so think of Stretton as their Michael Brown, I guess), arrived on the scene and launched an immediate evacuation of three-quarters of Darwin's population:

At the first meeting of the emergency committee held in the early afternoon of Christmas Day it was concluded that Darwin had effectively ceased to exist as a city (at least for the moment) and that a massive evacuation was essential. (Gurd et al p. 643). This assessment was confirmed by Stretton when he arrived that evening to take charge of the emergency.

The scale of the evacuation has been questioned by many cyclone victims, and by subsequent observers. Within two days about 10,000 people had left, about half by road and half by air. It appears that after this initial outflow the desire to evacuate dissipated - there was a growing feeling that it was better to "stay and see it out". However, Stretton was committed to reducing the city's population to a "safe level" of 10,500, and he implemented a number of measures designed to make evacuation very attractive. (Stretton, 107). Stretton was supported by the government, which promised full reimbursement of personal costs consequent on evacuation.

The momentum of the evacuations was regained, and in the end 25,628 people were evacuated by air, and 7,234 left by road. By 31 December 1974 only 10,638 people remained in Darwin.

The Australian federal government suspended certain procedural regulations in order to allow needed supplies and equipment to get to the area quickly, and the government worked closely with private organizations to expedite the evacuation. The Royal Australian Air Force assigned its entire fleet to storm relief and the evacuation, and the federal government began on Christmas Day to restore services to the affected area.

See what similarities and differences you spot in the Australian government's reconstruction efforts vis-à-vis what happened here with Katrina:

Tracy struck Darwin at a tempestuous time in national political affairs. The Whitlam led Labor government in Canberra was becoming increasingly unpopular, and the Opposition parties were signalling the refusal of Supply which eventually resulted in the dismissal of the Whitlam government in November 1975.

In this climate the government seized on the cyclone as a political circuit breaker. Prime Minister Whitlam interrupted an overseas trip to return to Australia to announce that the government would introduce special appropriation bills to cover the initial cost of rehabilitating Darwin and establishing a Darwin Reconstruction Commission.

The government also used Tracy to illustrate the need for a national approach to major crises, despite the nuances of the Australian federal system. Political leaders from both sides scrambled to visit Darwin and to be seen to be decisive in relief and reconstruction initiatives. (MacCallum)

The Commission was the government's principal mechanism for implementing Prime Minister Whitlam's January 1975 pledge of "a determined and unremitting effort to rebuild your city and relieve suffering." Its mandate was to reconstruct Darwin within five years - in fact, it achieved the task ahead of schedule, in a little more than 3 years.

How refreshing it must be to see a government willing to commit to rebuilding a city in five years, let alone doing so in two-thirds of that time.

How stirring to see a chief executive, even an embattled one, taking charge and vowing action, then doing it -- not just giving lip service and appearing for photo ops.

How sad that New Orleans is in the Bush crime syndicate's United States and not in Australia.