Olaf' Hits Samoa - Threatens Cook Islands

[GordMay]

Cyclone hits Pacific islands, fishermen missing ~ By Gyles Beckford
Source: Reuters 17 Feb 2005 05:33:19 GMT
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WEL82255.htm

”WELLINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Super-cyclone Olaf smashed through parts of American Samoa with gale-force winds, heavy rains and huge seas, tearing homes apart and sinking one fishing boat and leaving another missing ...
... The huge storm seas generated by Olaf have caused havoc with fishing boats in the area, with 14 emergency beacons being set off. But officials said they were not sure if all beacons were legitimate distress calls ...
... To the southeast of Samoa, the Cooks Islands were cleaning up after another weaker storm, Cyclone Nancy, passed nearby on Wednesday blowing over houses, ripping off roofs, felling power lines and trees, and causing flooding on the main island of Rarotonga ...
... If Olaf hits, it would be the third cyclone in as many weeks to strike the Cooks, a tax haven whose 21,000 people live scattered across small, low-lying atolls ...”

[BC Mike]

Interesting how the author described the Islands as a tax haven. What does that have to do with the storm or the damage or anything. South East of Samoa was helpful if you new where Samoa was. Above NZ a bit would be more helpful, and the fact they are part of NZ would help. What about the orange crop and other produce, there is also a 53 Bentley on the island, wonder how it survived. Michael

[exposure]

Yes, I wonder how many will file claims because their "Tax Haven" was destroyed?

[Alan Wheeler]

Arrrr yees, Tax haven or some would call it money laundery via the aid of a Government. But... probably shouldn't go there.
Damage hasn't been as bad as was expected. The sea's have been huge and the water level very high, which has been the main area of damage.
But the thing that shocked me, during the first cyclone that went through, a small ship was traveling between two islands. It had an Anglican youth group on board. My first question of reaction was, why on earth did they put to sea knowing a cyclone was coming. But the story continued to become more unbelievable. The girls of the group were below in cabins. But there was no room for the boys. So they were tied down with a tarpoulin over them out on deck. Yikes!!!! Like you would think the crew/captian would find some shelter somewhere below. It's a flamin Cyclone for goodness sake with seas that were huge. I just couldn't believe it.