Cyclone Lam: The damage
The damage from Tropical Cyclone Lam is still being counted.
Cyclone Lam moved west away from Nhulunbuy (MAF’s main base and Gove hangar), making landfall at about 2am Friday morning with a direct hit on Ramingining and Milingimbi (MAF have bases at both places) and narrowly missing a direct hit on Elcho Island (Galiwinku), although it did cause much damage there. It crossed the coast as a severe category 4 cyclone, with wind gusts reported to be up to 260 kilometres per hour.
It’s estimated up to 5,000 people in remote Arnhem Land Indigenous communities have so far been directly affected by the cyclone.
A state of emergency has been declared in communities worst hit by the cyclone, which includes MAF’s 4 bases in Arnhem Land: Milingimbi, Ramingining and Galiwinku (Elcho Island) and Gapuwiak (Lake Evella).
This is the latest update we have on our MAF bases:
Milingimbi
Many houses have been damaged. Could be without power, water or mobile communications for a week.
MAF houses
Rene & Janneke Don: House is still in tact, but without power.
Dave & Kimberly Caradus: No damage reported at this stage.
Ramingining
It was a long night but the worst is thankfully behind.
MAF houses
Scott & Anna Walmsley: Substantial damage to the MAF house (cover photo).
Rhys & Angela Morrell: Still trying to obtain information regarding the house.
Galiwinku (Elcho Island)
There has been a lot of damage to power and water infrastructure. Power lines down in at least 4 different spots. Power may be out for up to a week. 6 houses have been destroyed, 5 by trees and 1 by wind. Many other houses have been damaged. Telecommunications are still down.
MAF houses
We are still trying to find out information regarding the houses of the Job and Purdey families on Elcho Island.
Gapuwiak (Lake Evella)
It was a long night but the worst is thankfully behind.
MAF houses
Vautier: Power on and the house is ok.
Roediger: Power off and the house is ok. Power line down due to a falling tree.
We asked the team in Arnhem Land how they were feeling as they prepared for Tropical Cyclone Lam.
Watch the video here.
Evacuation
Late last Tuesday the Weeks and Vallance-Webbs were evacuated from Nhulunbuy out to 
Milingimbi, due to an undersupply of safe housing available in town. The following day, all 8 families from the 4 MAF bases were evacuated to Darwin in MAF’s 6 aircraft.
This was not an easy trip! Read how Kim Job went through a roller coaster of emotions on her blog.
As of this morning the families are still in Darwin.
Praise God that no loss of life or physical injury has been reported.
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DONATE
MAF has incurred additional expenses evacuating families and aircraft, re-establishing them back in their homes and getting the programme up and running again. If you would like to donate to help us get back on our feet after Cyclone Lam, you can donate here.