A Few Years After Cyclone Bobby

28^th February 1999

It has been a long time since Cyclone Bobby hit and I am now going back to the site of impact to assess the response made to this disaster. In the small town of Onslow there have been many different cyclones but Cyclone Bobby is by far one of the most severe. In my absence another cyclone has hit, Cyclone Olivia, although she only reached up to category 2.

the town of Onslow

A local in Onslow and fisherman* tells me “Cyclone Bobby brought me and my family much distress but we have suffered worse and we have become more prepared for the future.” “My fishing dingy was damaged during the cyclone but it was mainly just the fear of it hitting that got me” I ask him how they have better prepared for the future “ we have a survival pack in case of emergencies and have planned our own escape routine much like many families but there is not much to do except hope for the best”.

a map of Onslow

The town of Onslow has not had any significant or permanent damage from this cyclone I was relieved to find and there have been basic preparation skills for families in case of another cyclone but no solid plan for the whole town.

Onslow in perspective with australia

* This person is fictional and made up for this story.

Immediately After Cyclone Bobby

27^th February 1995

Cyclone Bobby has passed the town of Onslow leaving much damage behind and it has now begun to disperse as it heads inland. The damage costs have been totalled at around $11 million. It has affected many people and the environment around them. There has also been quite a large economic impact for this small town.

Graph showing Onslows most frequent cyclone moths

It is sad to say another life has been lost due to this terrible disaster. A motorist has drowned trying to pass a flooded road with his motorbike. This brings the total amount of lives lost in this terrible yet natural storm up to 8. Their families are all devastated and the people of Onslow are in a crisis. Many of them are suffering financially to fix any damage. Numerous people have lost valued possessions and houses while others are just at a loss of money to do anything. Although on a more positive note the wind damage to this town is not as bad as it could have been. There has also been lots of neighbourly love as they connect with they’re community, both poor and rich coming together to help remedy their broken home.

Destruction in Onslow

Environmentally the town has not been too badly affected. There is some serious flooding but Onslow has survived the majority of it. The winds brought done some trees and large branches which fell and injured many properties. There has been some minor and natural erosion and sea levels have rose but nothing too worrying for the brave people living here.

Chart portraying Onslows many cyclones

During Cyclone Bobby

25^th February 1995

cyclone bobby's track so far

Cyclone Bobby has descended upon the town of Onslow and he has brought very heavy rainfall. There is some major flooding along roads and massive housing destruction throughout the town. Luckily no lives have been lost in the town but two fishing trawlers collided off of Onslow. Sadly seven lives were lost in this tragic incident but the Cyclone will soon be moving on away from Onslow hopefully avoiding any more damage.

February's rainfall 1995

We have some video footage taken by a group of people out in a boat at the time showing the rough sea conditions. Luckily they were a fair way off from the cyclone but the rough sea conditions and harsh winds were still present. Sadly we do not know their actual position but we do know this footage was from 1995 on the 25^th of February (today).

Before Cyclone Bobby

23^rd February 1995

Cyclone Bobby has slowly been approaching the town of Onslow in Western Australia as it makes its way around the coast from Darwin. It is said to hit on the 25^th of February yet so far has been sticking to the water. This cyclone may be the most powerful to hit Australia since Cyclone Tracy. The now category 3 cyclone is said to reach category 4 by the 25^th. This means significant housing and building damage and dangerous debris sailing around with high wind speeds of up to 275 km/h. With Cyclone Bobby’s excessive rainfall the drought in the southwest land division may finally be over. Yet this cyclone will bring more bad news than good. Boats off of Onslow will be at great risk and there is sure to be vast amounts of damage done to housing and building structures within the populated areas hit. Flooding is assumed to occur and it would be safe to avoid transport in the conditions to come.

Cyclone Bobby Nearing the Coast

The cyclone is presumed to be caused from high-tension storms clashing together out at sea near Darwin with strong wind force named tropical disturbances. The humid and hot temperature makes these very common, yet only 7% of tropical disturbances become cyclones, this being one of them.

  

the structure of a cyclone

Cyclone Bobby; An Introduction

28^th September 1995

Cyclone Bobby was a severe tropical cyclone that hit Western Australia in February 1995. Bobby was located at latitude of 21.3 degrees S and a longitude of 115.6 degrees E. it hit a coastal town named Onslow, near Exmouth more than 1000 km north from Perth. 8 lives were lost in this horrific cyclone and 20 homes destroyed. The estimated cost to fix all the damage received from this cyclone was $11 million.

Cyclone Bobby's trail along the western coast

This cyclone reached a category 4 as it passed along the coast. The cyclone started up north near Darwin on the 18^th of February and slowly made its way down the coast avoiding land until near Onslow on the Pilbara coast on the 25^th of February where it reached category 4 and did some huge damage. Later it continued in land but with less damage till the 27^th of February.

Cyclone Bobby picked up wind speeds of up to 270 km per hour and brought enormous amounts of rain. There was more than 400mm of rain in Onslow accompanying Cyclone Bobby. This disaster also brought about some flooding due to the rain. The lowest estimated air pressure was 925 hPa.

Birds eye view of Cyclone Bobby