ALOFI, Niue — Gaining momentum and force after leaving a path of destruction in the islands of Samoa and northern Tonga, tropical cyclone Heta struck the small island of Niue on Monday, Jan. 5. Winds had increased to more than 150 miles per hour, gusting to 190 miles per hour as it came ashore on Niue, pounding the island with waves that rose to the height of a ten-story building.
The six missionaries serving on Niue are accounted for and suffered no injuries. Miraculously, all 203 members on the island also are reported safe, with only a few sustaining cuts to their feet as they ran across the coral shores of the island to escape the high seas and winds.
The village of Alofi, hardest hit by the storm, sits atop a shear cliff rising 90 feet above the shoreline, offering what appears to be an impregnable fortress of coral and stone rising from the sea. This formation was deluged by waves that rose 20 to 40 feet over its edge, delivering fatal blows to homes in the village. Seventy homes in this area were washed from their foundations and into the sea by the high waves that inundated the western shore.
The Niue Hospital in Alofi was demolished by the insurmountable waves of Heta after being reconstructed in 1990 following another cyclone. It is estimated that more than 200 families are homeless and are being assisted, along with other needy people, by the Red Cross. Only a few structures on the island escaped damage from the high winds and water.
Of the three LDS meetinghouses in Niue, the chapel at Alofi sustained the most damage with debris, broken windows and flooding waters.
Brother Dennis Taylor, from South Carolina and first counselor in the Augusta Georgia Stake presidency, was visiting on the island when tropical cyclone Heta hit. Having served a mission on Niue from 1962 to 1965, Brother Taylor was familiar with the island and its people and immediately wanted to be of help. He contacted District President Makamau Hekau, who had been home ill for several days with the flu, and they agreed what should be done.
Brother Taylor and his wife, JaNice, went to work and cleaned the debris and water from the Alofi meetinghouse, making it a suitable temporary refuge for about 20 people who had come to the building looking for shelter. Then to make the area more accessible by emergency and other vehicles, Brother Taylor organized four of the missionaries, who spent the rest of the day clearing debris from the roads. Sister Taylor joined with them in the effort.
A two-man area welfare team from the Church's Pacific Islands Area Office in New Zealand has been sent to Niue. Carrying their own food, water supplies and satellite telephone, they are assessing the needs of the people and will recommend what Church assistance will best help the people of this tiny Pacific island in the aftermath of the storm.
"We are grateful that our missionaries and members are safe and that none are suffering from major accidents or illnesses," said Elder Robert K. Dellenbach of the Seventy and president of the Pacific Islands Area. "We know the pain they must be feeling in the loss of their homes and belongings. They are faithful and resilient and full of hope, and through helping one another we know they will recover. We are also grateful for the minimal damage to our Church buildings. We are anxious to review the needs assessments of the island and assist in all ways we possibly can."