Whether possible cyclone or ‘just bit of rain’ Darwin residents suggest taking prep seriously
While bottled water vanishes from Darwin supermarket shelves ahead of a possible cyclone, residents who lived through Category 5 cyclones call this one "peanuts".
With a possible cyclone approaching the Top End, Darwin shoppers and residents shared their shopping basket contents, thoughts, advice and on what they were doing to prepare.
Reports of a possible Category 2 cyclone making its way to the NT have intensified this week with residents being told to stay alert and be prepared.
While forecasters are working on tracking the tropical low north of Darwin, shoppers and residents in Nightcliff having been shoring up their emergency stocks or cupboard supplies.
At Woolworths Nightcliff, the shelves have already been emptied of bottled water with some shoppers also reporting diminishing tinned food stocks.
In one of the aisles, shopper Bronwyn said she had quickly stopped by to get a few items such as tuna and sparkling water when the still had run out.
Having moved to Darwin this year, she said she had never experienced a cyclone before.
“I was a bit nervous but I think all the buildings are built to cyclone standards and if it really gets bad, I’ll go to my daughter’s,” she said.
Caterer Roshel Hapuarachchige said she had only found out about the possible cyclone from her mum on Tuesday morning.
But having lived through a Category 5 cyclone before during her 33 years living in the Territory, she was not worried.
“A long time ago we had one Category 5,” she said. “It was flooded everywhere and then after that whenever one came it was like peanuts.”
Gesturing to her fairly full trolley, Ms Hapuarachchige said she was just doing her usual everyday shop for work.
“So cyclone or no cyclone I do catering so I am stocked up,” said the Fannie Bay resident.
“I have a mini Woolies in my home.
“If it comes, it comes. Whatever is meant to happen will happen, I’m stocked up.”
Another Darwin resident on his way home, Julio Del Nido, said he was also pretty stocked up week-to-week and just grabbed some water.
If a possible cyclone did land in the Top End, he said he would probably stay with his son in Brinkin.
When asked if he had any advice for residents, Mr Del Nido told people to listen to the authorities.
“Take it seriously,” he said. “People don’t take it seriously. It’s life living in Darwin.”
Paul Carroll and Anthony Hoban gave similar advice to any cyclone newbies after Mr Hoban’s wife sent him out to grab a few tins of baked beans, spaghetti and tuna.
While Mr Hoban said it would probably just end up being a “bit of rain”, the long-time Territorian said it was good to have a plan.
“If it happens it happens, I’m not really worried about it too much at the moment,” he said.
“Stock up and just be prepared in case.”
Down at the Nightcliff Jetty, a few people were enjoying a balmy, slightly cloudy afternoon.
One man out with his camera and tripod, Shane Roberts, said he had popped down to make the most of the weather in case things became wilder in a few days to get before and after shots.
“I literally just came down to get the calm before the storm,” he said.
The owner of Black and White Real Estate Marketing said the hovering cyclone warning meant his jobs were getting moved “left, right and centre” as the sunshine needed for his photography was due to disappear.
The long-time Territorian has seen a few cyclones over the years including Cyclone Carlos which hit the NT in February 2011.
When asked what he did to prepare at home, Mr Roberts said he just tended to make sure the cyclone kit was updated each year.
“A quick check and move on,” he said.
“Get your cyclone kit ready; make sure it’s done.
“Otherwise it’s business as usual. It’s just a normal day and hopefully with some king tides and great photos.”
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Originally published as Whether possible cyclone or ‘just bit of rain’ Darwin residents suggest taking prep seriously
