Swimming to safety: A Papua New Guinea family survives Cyclone Maila floods

Swimming to safety: A Papua New Guinea family survives Cyclone Maila floods By Rachel Punitha, IFRC Senior Communications OfficerWhen the flood came, Jocelyn Papat had no time to run.It was early morning in Karavia Number One Ward, a community in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. Jocelyn was already awake when she heard an ominous roar coming from the hill behind her home.Within moments, a flood triggered by the severe weather of Tropical Cyclone Maila surged down the hillside and crashed into her house. Like most homes in the area, it was made of wood.Some of her children and siblings were still inside.“We heard the roar of the flood coming down, but we could not escape before it hit the house,” Jocelyn recalls.The force of the water swept away the entire house, carrying the family with it. Injured and terrified, they fought their way to safety.“We were inside the house when it was washed away,” she says. “We managed to swim out and save ourselves.”Jocelyn still vividly remembers the aftermath.“I was completely covered in mud.” she adds.The family’s home was destroyed beyond repair. In a matter of minutes, they lost nearly everything they owned. Jocelyn Papat stands ...