Darwin’s cyclone alert

ONE week after a cyclone training exercise, No. 321 Combat Support Squadron personnel at RAAF Base Darwin were put on alert for the real thing when Cyclone Craig threatened Darwin.

Saturday, March 1, dawned clear and bright, but the promise of a lazy day at Mindil Beach evaporated when just after 0800 stage one of Exercise Cyclone Patrick was declared and 321CSS was recalled to duty.

The exercise was coordinated from the Base Operations Building, a purpose-built cyclone-proof bunker designed for Base Commander, Commanding Officer of 321CSS Wing Commander Pat Cunningham, to manage his assets during adverse circumstances.

As part of the exercise, airmen and airwomen had to ensure sections were cleared of debris, families were left in the care of a chaplain at the cinema, ground defence and catering staff distributed emergency supplies to nominated cyclone shelters, Mechanical Engineering Operations Maintenance Section staff tested the plan to park all vehicles in the transport compound and the medical staff and padre ran a crèche.

A week later, on Sunday, March 8, conditions were exactly the same as the day of the simulated cyclone exercise.
Many personnel were at Mindil Beach enjoying the tropical lifestyle and fresh mangoes washed down with coconut milk, when the mobile phone rang.

Tropical Cyclone Craig was conducting a tour of the Timor Sea and Darwin was placed on a cyclone watch.
Within minutes of the declaration of stage two, the Darwin civilians started heading towards the shopping centres, which also double as a cyclone shelter, and 321CSS personnel arrived at work.

Clouds started building up, and as dusk descended, the majority of the stage two tasks were completed.
As dawn broke on Monday morning, the watch upgraded to a warning.

The routine practised the previous week was repeated, and stores were distributed to the nominated cyclone shelter.

The remaining stage two and some preliminary stage three tasks were completed, as stage three was expected to be declared late Monday evening.

Monday night was long and sleepless for the duty staff. Category Two Tropical Cyclone Craig was monitored via the weather radar, satellites and the occasional eyeball.

However, although only 140km away, the cyclone was travelling very slowly.

By the end of the week, Cyclone Craig had travelled east along the Melville Island Coast, where it picked up speed and departed the area as a tropical low.

RAAF Base Darwin had demonstrated its preparedness for a real cyclone.

WGCDR Cunningham thanked all 321CSS staff, participating lodger units and their families for their support.
“A number of important lessons were learnt, problems identified and solutions found,” WGCDR Cunningham said.

“Effective teamwork, communication and an understanding of each individual’s role during a cyclone, real or imaginary, is essential if RAAF Darwin is to fulfil its role in providing post- cyclone support to the Northern Territory.”

.