Gone with the Wind

We headed north to Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands on the May day long weekend to visit family and friends up there. We passed through the areas worst hit by Cyclone Larry. Even 6 weeks after it struck, the whole area looks like it has just happened. there are tarps on every second house, trees broken or uprooted and random bits of corrugated iron and tin from rooves and sheds scattered about the countryside. Houses are still being cleaned out, with piles of possessions, sometimes whole housefulls of furniture, appliances and belongings sitting in soggy heaps waiting for collection. The near-constant rain since the cyclone hit has slowed the clean up operations, and has further water damaged buildings.