With adequate warning the people were able to board up buildings able to withstand a cyclone. However many homes not built to withstand cyclones could not afford to do any boarding up. I was told when traveling around the main island of Efate that the Official Meteorology Department Airspeed Indicator broke down at 350+ km an hour (220 mph). When a Category Five Cyclone hits a country the wind velocity is a critical factor in the safety of the inhabitants.