Boxing Day tsunami survivor Alfie braces for Cyclone Fina
Darwin’s main street is gearing up for an historically early cyclone. Read what’s going on.
If business operators and workers in Mitchell Street were worried about impacts from Tropical Cyclone Fina - it wasn’t immediately obvious yesterday afternoon.
Darwin’s main commercial street with two CBD backpacker hostels, coffee shops, nightclubs, pubs and a Coles supermarket, there was minimal concern at TC Fina’s potential impacts from workers and business operators on Wednesday.
German-backpacker Melanie Ehmele’s main concern is securing the casual hospitality shifts that are helping fund her travels around Australia.
In Darwin since September 20, she arrived here knowing there was a Wet Season pending and there had been a giant cyclone years earlier.
Resident at Youth Shack backpackers, she said the management team there are keeping guests informed about TC Fina’s progress.
“I’m just trusting the people from my hostel,” Ms Ehmele said. “They told us they’re informed and they’ll tell us what to do if it’s going to be dangerous.
“I had heard there was once a cyclone that destroyed every building here and I think it was Category 4. The only think I’m worried about is that I won’t be able to work at the weekend and I need the hours.”
Youth Shack manager Debbie Turner, a 25-year employee and veteran of a number of cyclones, is treating TC Fina seriously.
“It’s early for a cyclone but you’ve just got to be a bit prepared, because I think we get a bit flippant up here,” Ms Turner said.
“You have to let staff know what to do and depending on the category, inform your staff step by step with the warnings, and make sure they don’t panic either. We put notices on all their doors.
“We’re letting them know to be prepared, secure food and water and we’ll keep informing them if we get alerts. People are fine here, this building’s been through so many cyclones they’ll be fine.”
Youth Shack employee Alfie Majeed definitely isn’t worried. A veteran of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami which killed members of his family, he’s not in the least worried about what TC Fina dishes out.
“Sri Lanka’s a flat country and the whole country was flooded,” he said.
Across the road at Melaleuca backpackers, manager Lauren White said her and hostel staff are securing windows and doors and putting furniture inside.
“We’re making sure all our guests are prepped with water and food and we have the cafe on site, and we’re recommending guests secure their own bottled water and things like that.”
Lance Dunn at Auntie’s Darwin Cafe is also moving outdoor furnishings inside in readiness for the weekend.
“We’re a weekday operation and we’ll see how we go when the cyclone hits. I come from Fiji where they have hurricanes or cyclones so I’ve seen many over the years and if it happens, it happens and we’ll just deal with it.”
On Smith Street, 70-year-old Top End fast-food restaurant Uncle Sams is expected to stay open regardless of what TC Fina dishes out. “It’s an institution that everybody in Darwin knows about,” said a relative of the owner. “We feel we’re providing a community service and usually we always stay open during cyclones.”
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Originally published as Boxing Day tsunami survivor Alfie braces for Cyclone Fina
