Cyclone Gita – Report – Phil and Jan's Adventure in Tonga

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Two hours ago (local time is now 12 noon on Monday, February 12

Tonga

Storm forecast to be upgraded to highest-possible category five when it hits Tonga
Likely to hit about midnight, as of 7am is about 440km east of Tongatapu
Winds of up to 200km/h expected
Tongans have been urged to move away from low-lying areas, with flooding and storm surges likely
Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai can expect heavy, potentially damaging swells in south-eastern coastal areas
Authorities advise people to secure their properties
People should listen to the radio for information
Schools and workplaces closed so people can prepare

A storm surge of 30 feet would be devastating to much of the population of Tongatapu. Many coastal villages are only a few feet above sea level. The center of Nuku’alofa is only 21 feet above sea level. (Liahona, on the other hand, is about 200 feet above sea level.)

We have been advised by our mission president that he has been instructed to take “special care” of the senior missionaries – that the First Presidency has them “in their hearts.” (Not sure what any of that means, but maybe there will be special mattresses with our names on them, on the floor of the baptismal font area in the temple).

We’re exploring our options right now – the temple may be our best bet. (As many of you know, it is the highest point on the island, is very well constructed, has a sturdy roof, and basically no windows).

We have made a run to the A.T.M., as well. The Kapps (our neghbors with a car – ours is still in Eua) have filled their gas tank, in case we decide to evacuate to New Zealand. We have filled our bathtub with water (gross! we have cockroaches that live in the trap). I have two Cadbury Milk Chocolate Bars. I did have a can of Pringles, but ate them all – out of anxiety, I guess.

For some reason, we bought a case of milk (it comes in waxed boxes and doesn’t need refrigeration). I only eat cereal once in a while, and we don’t drink much hot cocoa, as you can imagine, so maybe we’ll barter the milk with our neighbors, or give it to the feral cats. As I think about it, I should make another run to the store for more chocolate bars. Inexplicably, mom said we should get a couple of dozen containers of yoghurt. (For a Category 5 storm, you can never have too much yoghurt. It’s hard to culture your own yoghurt when the wind outside is blowing 150 mph.) After the storm passes, there should be PLENTY of coconuts to gather. Just as long as they are not in our living room.

When I think about it, we could have Cadbury Chocolate bars, with shredded coconut sprinkled on top of it.

This is the plane that “evacuated” us from Eua. It came from Tonga with no passengers. It just came to pick up the 8 stranded souls who were trying to get off Eua. We had to leave our bags behind, because of weight. We’ll get them “when the next plane comes from Eua.” Whenever that may be.

We sat right behind the pilot. (Only 1 pilot – in great physical condition, or so we have been told). We never flew faster than 110 knots, or higher than about 950 feet above the sea. It was a very smooth flight. On our landing approach, we both thought: “We’re coming up way short of the runway.” We landed on the grass that WAS well short of the paved runway.

As soon as we landed, we called President Ma’u, in Eua, to let him know we had made it safely. He and his family were wonderful to us. They are hoping to come to Tonga to go to the temple in a couple of weeks, and we are going to take them out to dinner.