Lake Illawarra’s top cop has returned from a trip to Vanuatu to help cyclone victims, praising the country’s people for their resilience.
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Severe Tropical Cyclone Pam, a maximum category five storm, destroyed homes and crops and contaminated water supplies.
Eleven people lost their lives and tens of thousands were left homeless.
Lake Illawarra Commander, Kiama's Superintendent Wayne Starling owns a house in Vanuatu - located just outside Mele village.
He and his family spent six weeks there just prior to the cyclone.
Superintendent Starling returned on Wednesday night after a six-night trip to offer assistance.
He said there was no damage to his house, although the land was affected.
The Lake Illawarra commander said he initially held fears for the safety of local friends including a young woman they had sponsored, who had lived with his family for a period of time.
Superintendent Starling said the young Mele village woman, Vienna, was not injured, and their family home not damaged.
Superintendent Starling said on arrival the scene was ‘‘just total devastation’’ and ‘‘eerily silent’’.
‘‘Roads fell in the ocean - the ocean cracked roads,’’ he said.
‘‘All these ships picked up and thrown on the land, like they were pieces of cardboard.
‘‘Power lines were down, bridges were damaged.’’
He said he didn’t visit in an official capacity, but just as a friend of the villagers, ‘‘as a volunteer to help where I could’’.
‘‘I took a generator over there, chainsaws and bare essentials and supplies for families,’’ he said.
Despite the hardship, Superintendent Starling said residents’ ‘‘spirits were still so high’’.
‘‘That crops that were wiped out is what is most concerning,’’ he said.
‘‘They’re going to have to rebuild the crops.
‘‘They also really need tourism to keep going.
‘‘Many hotels have been destroyed, but they need tourists to go back because so much of their GDP is from tourism.
‘‘They’re beautiful people and a wonderful culture.
‘‘We can learn from the Vanuatu people; they aren’t materialistic.
‘‘What they have, money can’t buy.’’
Schools have officially reopened, but 80 per cent of school buildings were damaged in the storm.
Superintendent Starling said he also planned to return to provide further assistance, and the command would be raising funds to buy essential supplies.
