Wednesday, March 24, 2010
An Unnatural DisasterPerth - The state of Western Australia has declared a natural disaster after a storm swept over the capital perth and surrounding districts on Monday, causing widespread flooding.
The freak storm hurled hailstones the size of tennis balls as winds of more than 120km/h tore roofs from houses and uprooted trees.
Thousands of residents jammed emergency phone lines with calls after some 160,000 homes were left without electricity. By yesterday, power had been restored to nearly 100,000 homes.
The most powerful storm for more than 15 years followed the driest summer ever recorded in Perth. Just 0.2mm of rain fell in December, January and February, while 40mm fell in a few hours during the storm.
"This incident is going to cost the state tens of millions of dollars to repair buildings, restore power lines," Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett said.
Initial estimates put the cost of the damage at more thanA$100 million ($128.7 million).
Following the declaration of a natural disaster, affected residents will be able to access emergency accommodation, food and clothing.
Local officials said officers are expected to reopen today depending on the clean-up operation.
The Insurance Council of Australia has extablished a special task force to deal with claims in the aftermath of the storm.
It has also declared an "insurance catastrophe" and is working with the goverment to expedite the processing of claims.
The University of Western Australia was among those that were badly damaged and its stained-glass windows and glasshouses were destroyed.
"We were in the eye of the storm, the hail was incredible," vice-chancellor Allan Robson said.
On Sunday, a Category Two cyclone hit the Great Barrier Reef coastline on Australia's east, ripping trees out of the ground and samashing boats and houses.
My mind's unweaving/ 7:09 AM
