Australia mops up from monster cyclone

A message sprayed on debris shows the spirit of a home-owner after the building was destroyed in Tully, Australia, after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

A message sprayed on debris shows the spirit of a home-owner after the building was destroyed in Tully, Australia, after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

A highway sign, blown from its position by Cyclone Yasi, lies next to a rail line near the northern Australian town of Silkwood. Australians voiced relief and surprise after one of the world's most powerful cyclones spared the nation's northeast coast from expected devastation, with no reported deaths despite winds tearing off roofs and toppling trees. Photo: Reuters

Damage to buildings caused by Cyclone Yasi is seen in the northern Queensland town of Mission Beach, 1600km north of Brisbane. One of the most powerful cyclones on record slammed into Australia's northeast coast, tearing off roofs and bringing down power lines but there were no reports of deaths as first light broke. Photo: Reuters

Flood water caused by cyclone Yasi block the main road between the northern Australian towns of Innisfail and Tully. One of the most powerful cyclones on record slammed into Australia's northeast coast, tearing off roofs and bringing down power lines but there were no reports of deaths as first light broke. Photo: Reuters

Rain brought by cyclone Yasi bursts the banks of a stream near the northern Australian town of Tully. Australians voiced relief and surprise after one of the world's most powerful cyclones spared the nation's northeast coast from expected devastation, with no reported deaths despite winds tearing off roofs and toppling trees. Photo: Reuters

Damage to buildings caused by Cyclone Yasi is seen in the northern Queensland town of Mission Beach, 1600km north of Brisbane. One of the most powerful cyclones on record slammed into Australia's northeast coast, tearing off roofs and bringing down power lines but there were no reports of deaths as first light broke. Photo: Reuters

Damage to buildings caused by Cyclone Yasi is seen in the northern Queensland town of Mission Beach, 1600km north of Brisbane. One of the most powerful cyclones on record slammed into Australia's northeast coast on Thursday, tearing off roofs and bringing down power lines but there were no reports of deaths as first light broke. Photo: Reuters

Houses with no roofs stand next to their undamaged neighbours after Cyclone Yasi passed the northern Australian town of Tully. Australians voiced relief and surprise after one of the world's most powerful cyclones spared the nation's northeast coast from expected devastation, with no reported deaths despite winds tearing off roofs and toppling trees. Photo: Reuters

A man views a fallen tree in Cairns, Australia after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

A house lies in ruins after Cyclone Yasi passed the northern Australian town of Tully. Australians voiced relief and surprise after one of the world's most powerful cyclones spared the nation's northeast coast from expected devastation, with no reported deaths despite winds tearing off roofs and toppling trees. Photo: Reuters

Flood water caused by cyclone Yasi block the main road between the northern Australian towns of Innisfail and Tully. One of the most powerful cyclones on record slammed into Australia's northeast coast, tearing off roofs and bringing down power lines but there were no reports of deaths as first light broke. Photo: Reuters

State Emergency Services workers clear a tree that has fallen into the hospital at Tully, Australia, after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

Helby Haines walks with her grandchildren Cienna Haines and Claudia Haines past twisted roofing material strewn on the street in Tully after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

A complete roof is wrapped around a power pole after Cyclone Yasi passed, in the northern Australian town of Cowley Beach. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: Reuters

A toad sits on a child's toy amidst flood waters after Cyclone Yasi passed, in the northern Australian town of Cowley Beach. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: Reuters

Damage to buildings caused by Cyclone Yasi is seen in the northern Queensland town of Mission Beach, 1600km north of Brisbane. One of the most powerful cyclones on record slammed into Australia's northeast coast, tearing off roofs and bringing down power lines but there were no reports of deaths as first light broke. Photo: Reuters

A man works to repair damage to the roof of his house while his dogs inspect a fallen tree in Kamma, Australia. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

Jamie Faulks looks at debris in his house after the roof was blown off by Cyclone Yasi in the northern Australian town of Silkwood. Australians voiced relief and surprise after one of the world's most powerful cyclones spared the nation's northeast coast from expected devastation on Thursday, with no reported deaths despite winds tearing off roofs and toppling trees. Photo: Reuters

A woman crosses a street and past debris in Tully after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

A house is destroyed in Tully, Australia, after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

A man prepares to cross a flooded road, under downed power lines after Cyclone Yasi passed, in the northern Australian town of Cowley Beach. One of the most powerful cyclones on record, Yasi tore off roofs, toppled power lines and terrified tens of thousands of people hunkered down in their homes but there were no reports of deaths. Photo: Reuters

People walk through debris strewn on the street in Tully, Australia after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

A house is destroyed in Tully, Australia after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

A police officer uses an axe to clear a tree that has fallen across a road on the outskirts of Cairns, Australia. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

Bananas lie on the ground at Innisfail, Australia after Cyclone Yasi brought heavy rain and howling winds. The massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to more than 170 000 people - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century. Photo: AP

Rain bought by Cyclone Yasi bursts the banks of a stream near the northern Australian town of Tully. Australians voiced relief and surprise after one of the world's most powerful cyclones spared the nation's northeast coast from expected devastation, with no reported deaths despite winds tearing off roofs and toppling trees. Photo: Reuters