RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (2 Mar 2005) -- Palmerston atoll in the Cook Islands was under the furious winds of Cyclone Percy this morning. About 50 people live on the atoll. Paul Bruce, a forecaster at New Zealand's Met service, said the cyclone was west of the atoll, about 310 miles northwest of Rarotonga in the Cooks. "Palmerston is getting destructive storm force winds with speeds of possibly up to 100 kilometers an hour (60 miles per hour), and quite high seas," he said. "These winds are likely to continue for another 6 to 9 hours, and then gradually ease." Paul Bruce says Rarotonga is expected to start feeling the effects of Cyclone Percy over the next 24 hours. While the cyclone moves southeast towards Rarotonga, fine weather in the past day has allowed locals to begin cleaning up on Pukapuka and Nassau islands in the northern Cook Islands. While no injuries have been reported, more than 600 people have lost their homes or suffered damage to their homes, officials said. A boat filled with emergency supplies is headed for these northern islands and could arrive late tomorrow. | | But Chief Inspector Teroi John Tini of the Emergency Operations Centre says as well as extensive damage to buildings, there's been swamping of crops, especially the taro which grows in abundance on Pukapuka. "It's unfortunate; their planting area has been swamped by seawater, and if they haven't done so already, by now they will be out there diving to recover the shoots for replanting when this thing is all over." It has been suggested that some people may have to be relocated from Nassau. Chief Inspector Tini says relocation may take place while the cleanup and rebuilding is under way. But not all the news from Pukapuka is bad. Inspector Isamaera, of the Emergency Operations Centre says the island's population has grown by one. "They had one baby born on the island." 
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