- Cyclone Tracy was a cyclone that struck north Australia in 1974. It was formed in the Arafura Sea and hit Darwin on Christmas Eve and went into Christmas day. Darwin is the capital city of the northern territory. The highest the wind speed was 204km/h. Cyclone Tracy was a Category 4 cyclone out of 5 cyclones categories, here is a table that shows the characteristics of the different cyclone categories.
- Economic – The majority of the city was destroyed and it cost around $800,000,000 to rebuild. Due to the loss of offices and other buildings, businesses were severely damaged. Some local businesses also shut down permanently, causing unemployment.
- Environmental- during the catastrophic event, sewage pipes were destroyed causing a lack of hygiene and clean water. The cyclone also destroyed many trees and killed many birds. As a result their population dropped significantly. Plenty of the sea life was strewn across the city when the sea retreated.
- Social - It destroyed around 70% of the houses in Darwin and killed 71 people, including those on land and at sea and hundreds of people were injured, however many more may have died. There are reports that indigenous settlements were destroyed, however their deaths were not recorded. When the city Darwin was rebuilt, there were nowhere near as many people living in the city, due to people who evacuated not coming back.
- Environmental- during the catastrophic event, sewage pipes were destroyed causing a lack of hygiene and clean water. The cyclone also destroyed many trees and killed many birds. As a result their population dropped significantly. Plenty of the sea life was strewn across the city when the sea retreated.
- Social - It destroyed around 70% of the houses in Darwin and killed 71 people, including those on land and at sea and hundreds of people were injured, however many more may have died. There are reports that indigenous settlements were destroyed, however their deaths were not recorded. When the city Darwin was rebuilt, there were nowhere near as many people living in the city, due to people who evacuated not coming back.