Residents in Western Australia's Pilbara are still picking up the pieces in the wake of tropical cyclone Zelia. The category 4 cyclone hit the coast with destructive winds on Valentine's Day, near Port Hedland, dumping huge amounts of rain.
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00:00The Coongan River in record flood in the wake of tropical cyclone Zelia.
00:06Less than three weeks later, the floodwaters have dried up, but the memories are still
00:11raw.
00:12I opened the door and the ocean was there.
00:16Alex Dorrington has run a river gum nursery near Marble Bar for 27 years.
00:21Two thousand plants, slated for sale to towns and rejuvenated mine sites, drowned.
00:27The river here is where we grow all our trees, it's been completely ruined.
00:32The damage bill is expected to come close to $60,000.
00:36It does take an emotional toll because it's stuff that I've worked with for many years.
00:41Residents in Marble Bar say that floodwaters pooled here on this side of the low level
00:45crossing, building and building until this road burst like a dam.
00:50Further downstream, homes and businesses would be caught in the rising Coongan River.
00:55If it hadn't been for that dam bursting, we wouldn't have had this flood.
01:01Others caught in the path of cyclone Zelia are still waiting for the all clear to return
01:06home.
01:07Temporary classrooms in Port Hedland, keeping school alive for students evacuated from their
01:11remote community.
01:13While it's doing for now, we hope to be back in community as soon as possible.
01:19On the outskirts of Port Hedland, one of the oldest independent Aboriginal schools in Australia
01:24is keen to get students back on country.
01:28In town, you know, too much trouble, getting in trouble with the police.
01:33I see a few others, you know, so I feel bad.
01:39That's why we keep them here.
01:42We've been taught the right way.
01:45With power recently restored, staff are confident students will be back in classrooms at the
01:50Strelly School soon.