How did people react to Cyclone Tracy?

Among the people of Darwin itself, there were quite different individual reactions. For example:

• Ignoring the warnings - many residents chose this option because there had been previous threats of cyclones, yet Darwin had not actually been hit by a cyclone for many years, and it was also Christmas Eve - surely they wouldn't be hit at Christmas?!
• Heeding the warnings and taking the suggested precautions for securing items and preparing for loss of services, e.g. water, electricity.
• Evacuating early, before the cyclone hit.

After the cyclone had hit, the general feeling was disbelief and shock. People were quickly evacuated, and a great many of them (who were mostly transient workers) never returned.

The people of the rest of Australia reacted by helping out wherever they could. This involved taking in evacuees or sending goods to help out.

so if it happened again people might actually listen to the warnings.

made by martha