Preparations and Impact
While Ivy was reaching peak intensity, it passed through Vanuatu, becoming the third major cyclone in 14 months to affect the region, after Cyclone Zoe and Cyclone Gina. Its threat prompted over 2,000 people in Port Vila to evacuate. While Ivy moved through the country, a station on Anatom island recorded winds of 130 km/h (80 mph), which were the highest sustained winds observed in the nation. In addition, the cyclone dropped heavy rainfall, reaching 254.4 mm (10.02 in) at Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila. The central area of deep convection moved across every island in the archipelago.
As the cyclone moved through Vanuatu, it cut off communications between the various islands, and also knocked Radio Vanuatu offline. Overall there was widespread moderate damage, with small areas of heavier damage. The cyclone affected more than 54,000 people – about 25% of the population – on various islands, including Paama, Epi, Ambrym, eastern Malekula, northern Aoba, and northern Maewo. On Ambrym island, the winds wrecked the roofs of houses and downed trees and vegetables. Overall, about 11,000 houses were damaged, and a large proportion of the 24,000 people in Ivy's path became homeless due to the destruction of their houses, with many buildings made of iron and bamboo wrecked. In addition, the winds downed trees and power lines.
Heavy damage occurred in the capital city of Port Vila, where flooding washed out small bridges. Strong waves wrecked the main port there and also capsized two boats. High winds downed trees and blocked roads across the capital, with 70% of the nation's roads affected. Several people were injured due to flying debris, and one person was severely injured due to the storm. The high winds affected 80% of the nation's food crops, including the loss of much of the mango and banana crops as well as the ruination of about 75% of the coconut and cocoa crops. The latter loss was significant due to its status as a cash crop. The cyclone damaged 90% of the water facilities across the archipelago. It also damaged about 60% of the health centers, as well as 112 schools, some of which were completely destroyed. Monetary damage was estimated at VT427.6 million (2004 VUV, $3.8 million 2004 USD). Due to advanced warning, there were only two deaths in Vanuatu, including one when a landslide killed a woman on Malakula island.
In addition to affecting Vanuatu, Ivy produced heavy rainfall in Tikopia and Anuta, two small islands in the southeastern Solomon Islands. Later, intense rainbands spread across the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. Along the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, the extratropical remnants of Ivy produced high waves that killed two people in Whakatane. The storm produced a 1 in 10 year storm surge as it passed the country that peaked at 1.04 m (3.4 ft) at Omaio. The surge, in combination with waves, reached about 5 m (16 ft) at Papamoa, based on the position of debris on the beach. Wind gusts reached 79.7 km/h (49.5 mph) at the Whakatane Airport, and the combination of winds and waves produced beach erosion along the coast.
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