Preparations
On January 2, the meteorologists of the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (AFAP) warned that Heta could hit Tokelau, and predicted that the storm would turn south and pass to the west of Samoa. The following day, however, the advisory area was extended to include Samoa and then Niue and Tonga. At that point, the AFAP forecast that the storm would hit Niue as a Category 2 or 3 tropical cyclone in 12–24 hours. On January 6, when Heta reached Category 5 status, the AFAP predicted that the storm would hit Tonga and its surrounding islands the following day, bringing strong wind and rain damage. In Niue, anticipating that the storm would bring catastrophic damage, 1300 residents sought shelter in their homes while others evacuated coastal areas to higher ground. In Samoa and American Samoa, although hurricane warnings were in effect, there were no reports of evacuations or storm shelters being opened before the storm.
Read more about this topic: Cyclone Heta
Famous quotes containing the word preparations:
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—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)
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