‘Do not be complacent’: Harrowing story of survival a reminder to prepare for tropical cyclone season

Cyclone Tracy is marked as the most frightening day of Peter Miller’s life. Now he meticulously prepares each year for the tropical cyclone season and he wants others to do the same.

IT was all around him and he couldn’t escape, Peter Miller thought he “was going to die”.

Cyclone Tracy is marked as the most frightening day of Mr Miller’s life who now meticulously prepares each year the cyclone season rolls in.

Mr Miller said warnings about Cyclone Tracy were coming in on Christmas Eve 1974 but everyone chose to have another drink and said ‘we’ll be right’.

“Do not be complacent is my word,” Mr Miller said.

“If you hear there is a cyclone coming, you must be prepared for the worst, because the worst may happen.

Northern Territory Emergency Service community engagement officer Gemma Bellenger said there were four vital steps to take when preparing for cyclone season.

“Prepare your emergency plan, kit, home and know the warning services,” Ms Bellenger said.

“As we saw with cyclone Marcus, there were people who were left without power for up to 10 days.”

Ms Bellenger said everyone in the house needed to know where the emergency kit was stored.

“You need to have enough food and water for up to three days,” she said.

“We recommend at least ten litres of bottled water per person but you have to also think about bathing water as well.”

Ms Bellenger said you should have a torch and a radio which were battery operated.

“I know these days a lot of people have their mobile phones but those things are going to be the first that loses signal in the event of a cyclone”

NT Police, Fire and Emergency services (PFES) has released a thorough guide containing essential cyclone season preparation steps.

Cash, sleeping bags, toilet paper, important documents, sealable waterproof bags, extra car and house keys, pet supplies and hand sanitiser are things among the emergency kit checklist.

Ms Bellenger said it was important to stock up on supplies before the cyclone.

SES members Gemma Bellinger and David Hawkes encouraging Territorians to get their Cyclone Kits sorted. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Then we’re not all screaming to the shops as soon as there is a cyclone warning that’s been announced.”

Ms Bellenger said once a cyclone had passed an all clear would be given over TV and radio.

“It doesn’t mean go outside straight away, wait a few hours first,” she said

“You might get in the way of emergency services trying to support people in need.”

Mr Miller said to this day, whenever the wind slightly picks up he still would get “Jumpy”. “You must do all of the preparations that are recommended and do not take it lightly,” he said.

For more information and to download the PFES Cyclone Guide, visit pfes.nt.gov.au

Mr Miller said to this day, whenever the wind slightly picks up he still would get “Jumpy”.

“We thought we were going to die because we could hear the building being demolished around us,” he said.

“The wind reached such a frenzy it tore the roof off,” he said.

“There wasn't any escape from it you had to endure it, you couldn't tell someone to turn it off, you just had to be there and try to survive.”