Impact
| Rank | Cyclone | Season | Min. pressure mbar (hPa) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gwenda | 1999 | 900 |
| Inigo | 2003 | 900 | |
| 3 | George | 2007 | 902 |
| 4 | Orson | 1989 | 904 |
| 5 | Theodore | 1994 | 910 |
| Vance | 1999 | 910 | |
| Fay | 2004 | 910 | |
| Glenda | 2006 | 910 | |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology | |||
Cyclone George was the most powerful cyclone to hit Port Hedland since Cyclone Joan in 1975. The cyclone's peak intensity of 902 hPa (26.64 inHg) with wind gusts of up to 285 kilometres per hour (177 mph) was estimated following Dvorak analysis of satellite imagery.
Power and telephone lines were down in Port Hedland, many roofs and fences were torn down and trees were uprooted. At least one house was destroyed. The Pilbara region was declared a disaster zone, and the Australian Defence Force was on standby to provide extra help. At around 10 p.m on 8 March, the Bureau of Meteorology's Port Hedland weather radar was damaged by the cyclone and was offline for nearly a day. Tropical Cyclone Jacob struck almost the same area as George only three days later, although it was not as damaging or deadly as George. It did however cause some minor flooding.
Three people were killed and twenty-eight others were injured as a result of the severe cyclone. One death and the majority of the people injured occurred at a Fortescue Metals Group camp, about 100 km (62.13 mi) south of Port Hedland. Strong winds and flooding delayed the rescue efforts for most of the day. However, all injured workers were airlifted to the hospital in Port Hedland after the cyclone passed. The deaths occurred when strong winds knocked over temporary accommodation shelters known as dongas. The second death occurred at Indee station, located between Port Hedland and the mining camp. The man died from severe internal injuries while escaping from his wrecked donga, trying to seek help at the main station homestead. A third death occurred when a man who was transferred to a Perth hospital on 11 March died due to the injuries received when the cyclone hit at the Fortescue camp.
Read more about this topic: Cyclone George
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