Who helped out people in Darwin after Cyclone Tracy?

Other Australians helped by offering donations to help the people who lost their homes and possessions - clothing, food, materials, temporary shelter: most Australians did something to help if they could.

AnswerThe Commonwealth Government organised most of the efforts led by Major -General Alan Stretton of the Natural Disasters Organisation, and also the Northern Territory Government. The army was also called in to assist. Various community groups raised funds and distributed aid.

The first response came from the Northern Territory police. They had already made emergency preparations at Darwin and Casuarina police stations. As soon as the first damage reports came in, the police were seeing to road blockages, attending medical emergencies and directing people away from fallen power lines. 150 people were taken to shelter at the police station in this first wave of damage, but they then needed to organise the use of school for shelter, because so many people had lost their homes. When many more ended up sheltering at the schools, police organised other people to help with cooking, medical help, logistics of hygiene, collecting clothing and bedding donations, etc.

A medical team also arrived with Major-General Stretton. Meanwhile, the Federal Department of Housing and Construction (in Melbourne) organised officers to begin clearing debris and restore power and communications. Electrical contractor crews cleared fallen power lines organised portable generators wherever available. The officers also worked to repair and restore water pumps and pipelines to get water and sewerage systems working again.