# Storm leaves outstations and town camps in ruins

> A severe storm with winds up to 96 kilometres an hour damaged homes across Alice Springs and near Hermannsburg, exposing how poor housing quality amplifies disaster for remote residents.
- Title: Storm leaves outstations and town camps in ruins · Abc
- Summary: A severe storm with winds up to 96 kilometres an hour damaged homes across Alice Springs and near Hermannsburg, exposing how poor housing quality amplifies…
- Keywords: alice springs, hermannsburg, northern territory, storm damage, outstations, town camps, housing, news, politics, Storm, leaves, town
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-19/homeland-and-outstation-housing-damaged-by-storm/107274580
- Published: 2026-10-19T01:24:07+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: alice springs, hermannsburg, northern territory, storm damage, outstations, town camps, housing, news, politics
## Severe storm hits remote communities
A storm with winds up to ninety six kilometres an hour struck southern parts of the Northern Territory last Monday, uprooting trees, causing widespread power outages and ripping roofs from homes.
## Maryanne Malbunka's homeland damaged
Western Arrarnta woman Maryanne Malbunka's property near Hermannsburg was significantly damaged. Her children told her it was scary, with trees pulled from the ground and rain falling over houses.

> They said it was a mini cyclone or hurricane … and it was a bit scary.
## Poor housing amplifies storm damage
Malbunka, a health worker, said existing housing challenges in remote outstations made homes more vulnerable to storms. Many residents were struggling, living in tin sheds while brick houses were not being renovated properly.

> Maybe when we get more rain or more storms like that our houses will be flown out, because we're only living in a tin shed.
## Town camps also suffer damage
A Northern Territory government spokesperson said four public housing properties were uninhabitable and there were fifty nine storm-related repair jobs across public housing in town, including five town camps.
## Recovery will be costly and difficult
Malbunka said outstation residents would need many trips to the tip to clean up, which would be costly due to high fuel prices.

> We had to chuck everything out from the fridge. It was hard for us.
## Key takeaway

A severe storm damaged homes in Alice Springs outstations and town camps, with residents saying poor housing quality made the damage worse and recovery costly.