Port Hedland mayor Peter Carter says the town has “dodged a bullet” and it feels “surreal” to see only minimal destruction and damage in the Pilbara town.
“It’s been a sleepless night,” he said.
“But as I wake up this morning and look around,I’m so grateful that the community was ready for it. They cleaned up their yards and the emergency services have been fantastic.
“We dodged a major bullet.”
Carter says although the town is used to bracing for such destructive weather,he didn’t think anyone was ever ready for a Cat 5.
“That’s Cyclone Tracey material,” he said,referring to the 1974 cyclone that devastated Darwin.
“If it came near our town,I wouldn’t be standing here now talking to you.”
Carter is grateful the fast moving weather system avoided the area.
“Cyclone’s are what they are,” he said.
“They are really vicious,they can turn. Luckily for us,it turned at the right time.”
After living through many cyclone threats,Carter said Ilsa was unusual in its pattern,making it hard to predict how it would impact.
“Every cyclone is different,” he said.
“Some of them rain for weeks and weeks – this one,it’s really strange. It’s been so fast moving and not much rain at all. We were just very lucky. I’m very grateful.”