Communities in the Northern Territory are bracing for the arrival of Cyclone Trevor, one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in years. The storm is expected to make landfall on Saturday along with gale force winds and heavy rain.
Save the Children works across the Northern Territory including on Groot Eylandt, Katherine and Darwin, and plans to open several ‘child friendly spaces’, including at the Darwin showgrounds and is on stand to establish at the Katherine showgrounds, to help children and families impacted by the cyclone.
“We haven’t seen a storm of this strength and ferocity in the Northern Territory for several years, and we are urging residents to take every precaution in keeping safe during. It’s particularly important to provide extra care and support for children, who are always among the most vulnerable during emergencies of this nature,” Save the Children’s Northern Territory Manager Noelene Swanson said.
“Our ‘child friendly spaces’ help children cope with the situation and the uncertainty of having to leave their homes, providing a supervised space where they can simply be children again. It also gives parents the time and space they need to get support and deal with any administrative matters while knowing their children are well cared for.”
Save the Children is prepared to deploy staff to the NT to assist with the response when needed.
“The coming day and hours will be critical for communities lying in the path of Cyclone Trevor. Save the Children is monitoring the situation closely, and we are ready to increase the scope of our response if needed,” Ms Swanson said.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has declared a state of emergency as Cyclone Trevor strengthens and tracks across the Gulf of Carpentaria. This has triggered the largest mass evacuation in the Territory since Cyclone Tracey in 1974.
Save the Children has a long history responding to emergencies in Australia, including the Tasmanian bushfires and Townsville floods earlier this year.
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