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Social impact of the evacuations Many studies on the social impacts of the cyclone and its aftermath have been published. The consensus is that, despite the vicissitudes of immediate post-cyclone Darwin, adult people who stayed in the city (were not evacuated) suffered less in terms of physical and mental health. The "stayers" were probably also less adversely affected in respect of such factors as housing and living environments, finance, personal networks, and general attitudes toward living in Darwin. Those who were evacuated but later returned suffered rather more; while those who were evacuated and never returned suffered most. Only among the evacuated non-returnees was there any significant evidence of reactive emotional disorders. (Chamberlain et al; Milne). Distress among evacuees was often aggravated by the physical break-up of families. (Webber). Webber also suggests that while the responses to Tracy were effective in terms of short and long term physical aid, there was a critical gap in the medium term, where problems were not dealt with effectively. In particular, Webber says, there was a failure to acknowledge that the disaster had emotional as well as physical consequences. The community had more social and physical resources than were at first apparent, but there was a failure to effectively utilise and reinforce these resources. (Webber). Those who stayed or returned after evacuation generally had a more positive approach to Darwin's future; those who were evacuated and didn't return often "mourned" their alienation from a unique physical and social environment to which they had become comfortably adjusted. They had lost a distinctive physical environment and lifestyle, and social cohesiveness. (Milne). The experience of Darwin's children mirrored that of their parents. There were many emotional casualties among the children, but the vast majority of disturbances were reactive, fear conditioned responses which faded over time. However, many evacuated children did have difficulty in adjusting to new schools. (Milne) There was a consensus that adverse social impacts on those who left after the cyclone were aggravated by the constraint (the permit system) on returning. Being in Darwin experiencing the "bad news" was not thought to be quite so bad as being away, sitting waiting for that news. (Milliken). The scientific observers of the cyclone's social impacts all postulate that the "therapeutic community" (the post-disaster strengthening of community life) was a powerful factor which lessened the impacts on those who stayed or returned quickly. The Tracy experience suggested that "the extent to which disaster victims can cope and adapt may well be a function of their ability to remain inside the impacted community and be subject to its integrative and regenerative forces." (Milne).
The permit system  Stretton, in an effort to minimise Darwin's population, had introduced a system whereunder all persons remaining in Darwin required a permit to do so. Permits were issued only to people judged to be essential to the relief or reconstruction effort. The permit system remained in force for several months, and was used to prevent early return by many evacuees. The legal basis of the permit system was extremely doubtful.  Return to Darwin - the commitment of people By July 1975 the population of Darwin was estimated at 33,000 - many of them newcomers, and many living in damaged or improvised housing. There was a steady increase over the next two years as more housing became available. In early 1978 it was estimated that the city had regained the population level it had on 24 December 1974. |
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