Cyclone Lam Update: Houses and families
The evacuated MAF planes have now left Darwin.
The Weeks family and Vallance-Webbs returned to their homes in Gove over the weekend.
Galiwinku, Elcho Island
Ian Purdey and Jason Job have returned to Elcho Island to help with cleaning up, while their families remain in Gove until there is normal power and clean running water.
We had this report from Kim Job about her house in Elcho Island:
We’re home. We have a puncture in our roof from the tree. Lots of mess but not much damage to our belongings. The yard is full of trees, it is seriously unbelievable how many branches are down. Water on. Phones on. No power but we’ve been lent a generator.
Ramingining
Scott and Anna Walmsley have returned for the week to Ramingining to help with the clean up.
We had this report from Anna Walmsley about her house (cover picture):
Well we got home to Ramo on Sunday and have been hard at
work tree-lopping. Much to our joy there was no damage to the internals of our house – bar a bit of water damage to the walls thanks to a few holes punched in the roof and the obvious bent roof, thank God for verandas!! We still have no power but do have water, which has just been declared drinkable. So all in all we are doing well. The clean up will be a mammoth job and Ramo will not look the same for a LOOOONG time. Here are some shots from about town (including an aerial pic showing all the downed and leafless trees (pictured right).
The Morrells will be staying in town for the next month or so Rhys can continue flying for Laynha.
Angela Morrell:
Our house still stands! Other than losing all our trees, a burst water mains and damaged power line, the house remains intact and dry. Praise God! In Ramingining there are trees down everywhere, around 6 damaged houses and many houses without power and water, but no reported deaths or severe injury! It is truly a miracle that that there wasn’t even more damage considering LAM was still a catagory 4 when it went straight over. Thank you for all your prayers. (House pictured below.)
Milingimbi
David Caradus has returned to help with the cleanup. Kim and baby Sadie will remain in Darwin until facilities have returned to normal.
The Dons will return to Gove for the time being.
Praise God their houses are in tact, despite trees down all around.
There are severe problems with mould on couches and clothes as the power was out and houses were closed up.
Please continue to pray for all the families as they continue to deal with the major cleanup and returning to normal life.
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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.