HOW HAVE THE EFFECTS OF CYCLONE TRACY PROVIDED AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY WITH A GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF DEFENCE AGAINST CYCLONES?
As can be seen throughout this website, Cyclone Tracy unexpectedly destroyed Darwin early on Christmas Day 1974, killing seventy one people, injuring thousands, and a leaving a great majority of the 48,000 residents homeless due to lack of preparation and unforeseeable circumstances. Despite the adverse affects that this natural disaster brought upon Australian society, it has also lead to a range of positive changes. It has completely transformed society's perspective of defence against cyclones and safety protocols. Houses in cyclone prone areas are now built to withstand stronger winds and weather conditions, residents are now encouraged to prepare for cyclones before the season begins, and technology has advanced allowing for more efficient, detailed and diverse images, weather maps, and communication methods. As well as this, evacuation procedures are now conducted prior to dangerous cyclones in order to ensure the safety of all involved. These methods, which weren't available, enforced or encouraged before Cyclone Tracy, have lessened the impact that highly categorised cyclones have upon residential areas and those that live there. This shows that since Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin in 1974, Australian society has gained a greater understanding and awareness of tropical cyclones, and has adapted their defences in order to prevent a similar event from reoccurring.