Thanks mu-shen, I was so relieved to hear from them, and now its all go on cleaning up, and providing shelter, food and clothing, for those that no longer have any home.
Dad lost part of the roof of the house, and his garden was completely destroyed, but he was one of the lucky ones. His neighbours will be living with him for a while, as their house was completely flattened.
It will be a long way back for many, and many will just move away from the area, they are getting so tired of floods, and cyclones, and will move away. The predictions are for more of the same, climate change is here and "in ya face" , and people are finally waking up.