General Chat

All in all....Queensland are now going through a massive clean up. The worst case possible scenario now would be more cyclone weather, so can only pray that the weather is kind to them.

Thousands of volunteers are arriving to allocated suburbs around Brisbane CBD.to get it up and running.
20 thousand at last count.

This morning 20 buses ferried 60 people at a time who just turned up with buckets and brooms to help.
We need more buses one spokesman said.

Many tradesmen, plumbers, electricians, builders ect.....are offering there help free of charge.

Community spirit is at its highest.


There are also still many country towns in Queensland that are still isolated by water, and waiting for help. The biggest problem is getting volunteer helpers out to them.

It was also very sad to hear on our news about the flooding and mud slides in Brazil that clamied over 500 lives.

Droughts, Floods, Fires are all part of this Countries natural hazards. Mother nature can be cruel in a devastating form here.....but the Aussie spirit fight back is aive and kicking.

Australia...down under, but not out....:>))


Thanks to all who have added to the thread.


Tony

AS THE floodwaters neared their peak yesterday, the people of Brisbane could have been forgiven for panicking. Fortunately, the opposite happened.

Rarely can an emergency mass movement of people have happened so swiftly and with so little fuss. People rolled up their sleeves and got to work; then sat back and enjoyed a cold beer or a glass of wine in the humid night.

The rhetoric of the Premier, Anna Bligh, was borne out by scenes on the streets of Auchenflower, Milton, New Farm and a dozen other suburbs as the waters crept higher
and higher.

Thousands sat on street corners until the early hours of yesterday morning, mingling with refugees from nearby suburbs and neighbours they had never met.
They watched the sluggish brown tide slowly rise - eerie, a bit frightening, but not the end of the world.

''I don't know if my house is under water or not,'' said Kate Macleod from a footpath in Paddington. ''I live in Fairfield and we were just told the waters were coming and to leave, so I came here. And there's obviously plenty of water here, too.''

Hundreds of beautiful weatherboard Queenslander houses were submerged in historic suburbs just to the west of the city centre.

Yesterday volunteers were hard at work - the organisation managing volunteering said 11,000 people had already officially registered for clean-up duties, but the actual figure would be far higher, because most people just turned up and set to the task.
Often a person in a sandbagging chain would not know the name of the person next to them.

Surf lifesaving crews from the Sunshine Coast were pitching in, ferrying people up and down drowned streets. Dinghies were deployed by amateur sailors to salvage fresh food from soaked shops, and a crew known as ''the sandbag cowboys'' worked until the early hours, dashing back and forth from the state emergency service depots and bolstering the defences of any house they could find without protection.

''We've got a community kayak here - anyone who wants to use it can,'' Ms Macleod said.
After a day of helping strangers rescue their belongings, and quitting her home, she was content to sit on the footpath with a glass of wine and see how far the waters would reach.

''The water came pretty quick. It was rising steadily every hour, so lots of people were helping move furniture out,'' said Daniel Sadler, who watched the levels rise next to the flooded Lang Park in Milton.

''One guy we were with had just renovated upstairs and moved all his furniture downstairs - unlucky. People were helping him float his cupboards back up the street.''

In New Farm, to the city's east, similar scenes were played out. Cheerful teenage army reservists joined the crowd of people sandbagging a Coles supermarket, a Thai restaurant and a bakery. Some sat on the front steps drinking beers and chatting with anyone who passed.


Tides recede

At 4am today the river had fallen to 2.75 metres, from its peak of 4.46 metres yesterday, when 14,972 homes and businesses were completely swamped and 18,025 partially flooded

Bureau of Meteorology hydrologist Jess Carey said the river would not completely withdraw within its banks until next Wednesday.

"The watermark in the CBD is expected at this stage to fall to 2.5 metres by Saturday and Sunday and about 2 metres on Tuesday, before returning to a normal high
tide of 1.5 metres," he said.

"The CBD may be well and truly cleared by Sunday."

Low-lying areas of Brisbane CBD, however, may not be operational until Monday, as electricity sources were destroyed by the floods.
Energex spokesman Mike Swantson said authorities were considering installing giant generators in the CBD until equipment could be repaired.

"The CBD is not healthy at all. It's in need of pretty major surgery," he said.

Six blocks of the CBD this morning remain blacked out, with basement sub-stations still under water.

Residents in upstream suburbs, including Bellbowrie, Jindalee, Kenmore and Westlake, are expected to be among the first to be able to return to their homes to assess the damage and begin the clean-up this morning.

However floodwaters downstream in the suburbs of Paddington, Rosalie, Auchenflower and Milton will be the last to drain away.

At 2.8 metres, only 1200 properties were estimated to remain completely flooded; another 9500 partially flooded. The river is expected to reach 2.5 metres by midday.

"The first properties that flooded are likely to be the last properties from which flood waters will recede," lord mayor Campbell Newman said.

Few residents were able to reach their homes yesterday to inspect the damage, relying on brief reports from those with boats, jet-skis and canoes.

If you had to liken it to something, the smell permeating West End this morning is probably closest to rotting fish.
Volunteers armed with brooms and high-pressure hoses are at work today trudging through the sludge that covers the inner-city Brisbane suburb.

The sound of brooms and shovels scraping along the foothpaths mixes with the drone of water pumps.
The devastation to family homes is most evident in Ryan Street, where brown piles of destroyed household goods, clothes and memorabilia fill the footpaths.

But human spirit has been rising above the devastation as volunteers already covered in stinking mud arrive armed with water pumps, brooms, shovels and sponges
to help out.


The Lockyer Valley:

Searching for neighbours a sad daily ritual

THE first thing Barry Bull does each morning is look for his neighbours.

He lost two of them when the wall of raging brown water tore a path through their small Lockyer Valley town of Postman's Ridge on Monday.

Along Murphys Creek Road, Bruce Warhurst put his family in a car and sent them on their way moments before he was swept up in the torrent.
Just across the road, a concrete slab is all that is left of the brick home of Sylvia Baillie, 72.

Neither has been found.

As one resident said: "There's eight foot of silt in those creeks. they've got Buckley's".

"Every morning the police are up here looking for [Mrs Baillie]," Mr Bull, 56, said. "So the first thing you do every morning is get up and go for a look to see if she's along the creek bank.''

Mrs Baillie's daughter wanders the creek bed searching for her mother.

Morning Tony and all, this morning I remembered about
the fires you had about a year or two ago and wandered how
you all can get over these disasters. I raise my hat to you out
there for your spirit and strength in these times. Did I see on our
news that the waters had subsided and a clean up was now in
operation? I hope that things will get better for everyone concerned.

Emmax

Hello everyone
Friday night 9.40pm

Its still windy, very warm and very wet here near Albury.

All my friends and rellies In QLD are safe, but in need of TLC

I am trying to be calm, hoping they are getting the help they need to clean up.
My sister in Hervey Bay is concerned about the Low off the coast in the coral sea.
Hervey Bay is cut off from Maryborough and Bundaberg. But the airport is still operating.

Annette

My thoughts are with all those living or who have relatives in Australia. The scale of the devastation is hard to take in and my heart goes out to anyone caught up in it.

Cath xx

Hi Tony

we lived for a year in Melbourne in the mid-70s, and have made several visits down under since then, the last time in 2006.

I still have first cousins who live in Melbourne, Bendigo, on the Gold Coast, and in Hervey Bay ........ plus dozens of their children and grandchildren who are spread out all over Australia.


Plus my oldest (ie longest time) best friend who emigrated in 1961, and who has lived in Mudgee since about 1990 ....... although she is due to move to Ireland soon to live with her sister.

Also count numerous other friends living in practically every state except NT



as you may imagine, I'm thinking of every single one of them



It is so hard to get detailed information from outside Australia .... a 2 minute snippet on the news if we're lucky.

I'm sure the same applies to you when disasters happen in other countries!



sylvia

Hi Sylvia.

I guess theres no pleasing us...!!!

Early last year, and the year before, we were in drought, and praying for rain.
This year we have so much water, we dont know what to do with it.?

Although we are receiving a lot of rain in the lower south - eastern states eg: ( Country Victoria - Melbourne ) during our summer, it is still quite warm, but what i an noticing in my own area ( Melbourne ) is the humidity is very high this summer,( Day & Night ) and this we normally dont get this far down south. The northern states ( North of Sydney and Queensland ) get the Heat plus Humidity.....whereas the south eastern parts of Victoria get the heat but no humidity generally.

Perhaps the Aussie continent is moving North.?

Jude. You were mentioning the Animals.
According to the QLD....RSPCA they themselves are under water, and kind folk have been taking animals/pets to their homes, that live on high ground.
Animals ( Cattle )stranded and isolated on small dry area's cut off by the floods are receiving "fodder" drops.
RSPCA spokesman said until the waters subside, they cannot account for deaths of pets that may have been caught up in the "Flash Flooding areas".......and also our native animals, but have warned us that there will be many that have perished in the floods.

A newsflash just on, has told us that a man who had been seen in an area that was swept into the raging floods.
His body has just been recovered...... 80km's away down stream. Such a sad end.



Tony

strewth Tony!


it just keeps getting worse and worse doesn't it?!



thank you for keeping us updated

Update on the latest flooding...now in NSW and Country Victoria.

These are separate floods from those in Queensland, and of course not of the same magnitude, but it appears most of the Eastern States are experiencing flooding and/or Flash Flooding in one way or the other.

Floods worsen in NSW

01/2011

Large numbers of residents on the New South Wales north coast and in the North East are being evacuated as the flood situation worsens.

Phil Campbell from the SES says 650 people are isolated in Boggabilla, 200 plus in Toomelah.

"It's possible that the flood may peak above the highest previous record level of 12.8m.

"It's going close to that today and is expected to peak tomorrow in the early hours of the morning.

"The SES is concerned about the viability of the sewage, water and power in the area. People are being asked to evacuate by 3pm today rather than leave it till dark. The SES says many people will stay with family and friends outside of the flood risk area but for those who need it, an evacuation centre has been set up in Moree.

"Buses are leaving at 3pm from the Town and Country Club on the corner of North and Yeoman Streets in Boggabilla and there's another bus leaving from the Toomelah Cooperative.

"The MacIntyre River is moving quickly and the SES has had to rescue a number of people in other areas who are swimming in the water or trying to drive through."

The SES urges people to stay out of the water.

The water is expected to cause flooding downstream at Mungindi, (and on the following rivers) St George, Narran, Bokhara, with peaks at Weilmoringle, New Angledool and Goodooga.

"Major flooding is expected all the way down the Darling, causing rural properties to be isolated. More heavy rain is expected in the next 48 hours. 50-100mm widespread, while up to 200mm may fall on some properties in thunderstorms.

The SES says people in flood affected areas should stock up on essential items and put livestock in safe areas.

Many black soil roads will become unusable and properties will be isolated for some time.

The Newell Highway to Boggabilla is currently open but could close.

The Pacific and the Bruxner Highways are closed.

Call 132 701 for road information, but avoid the SES emergency number 132 500 unless you specifically need it for rescues.

Phil Campbell says "on the coast the flood on the Clarence River is caused by heavy rain on the north coast of NSW, and is expected to peak at the revised level of 7.7m at around 9pm.

"At that level it will be close to the top of the levy but authorities think the town will be OK. 450 residents in the coastal towns downstream may need to evacuate this afternoon. The water is expected to hang around for a few days at peak levels and can be dangerous."

***************************************************

Victoria braces for flash flooding.

Floods cause evacuations in Victoria

Residents have been evacuated from their homes as torrential rain falls over western Victoria.

About 100 people have been evacuated in Halls Gap and moved to shelter in Stawell as 85mm of rain hit the region overnight.

The main concern on Thursday night was in Glenorchy, on the Wimmera River near Stawell, with a flood peak expected to come close to levels seen when the river flooded last September.

A State Emergency Service warning was issued at midnight urging residents to consider evacuating ahead of a flood peak expected later on Friday morning.

At Halls Gap, in the heart of the Grampians National Park, roads were cut and floodwaters were encroaching on the town's main shopping strip.

The SES is also evacuating residents in Beaufort and there are concerns about the level of the Beaufort Lake.

The SES has issued major flood warnings for the Loddon River, Campaspe River, Avoca River and the Wimmera River.

In Gordon, near Ballarat, a 14-year-old boy riding his motorbike had to be rescued by the SES and CFA from a drain in Gordon after he drove through high waters on Thursday night.

Also, a man was rescued in Rockbank, west of Melbourne, when his ute got stuck in flood waters on Sinclairs Road.

Much of Victoria has experienced heavy rain in recent days, and a further 100mm is expected around several rivers on Thursday night and Friday that will affect towns including Charlton, Natimuk, Stoney Creek, Bridgewater, Serpentine and Newbridge.

A swathe of flood watches are in place for many catchments in the state's northeast, also hard-hit in the September floods, and the southwest for the next couple of days.

The forecast flooding is expected to be similar in scale to the week-long, widespread flooding that occurred in September, when hundreds of homes were inundated, and more severe than flooding in December.

Sustained winds of 70 to 80km/h and hour with gusts as high as 120km/h are expected in elevated areas across much of the western half of Victoria, with gusts to 90km/h elsewhere through Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says.

The low pressure system that will cause the wild weather, part of the La Nina event hammering Australia's eastern states, will move south along the Victoria-South Australia border on Friday and will be west of Tasmania by Saturday.

"Our concern ... is that for these communities, particularly on the Loddon, Avoca and Wimmera rivers, that if we do see the higher-end rainfall totals, we will see those rivers going to a higher level than was seen back in September, which was major flooding," SES operations manager Tim Wiebusch said.

"This will see communities put at risk again of properties being inundated by floodwater."

A section of the Great Ocean Road is closed following landslides, with traffic diverted at Lorne and Skenes Creek. Along with flooding in the townships of Beaufort, Ballarat, Halls Gap, Kyneton, Creswick...and localised suburbs of Melbourne city.

******************************************

Two years ago half the country was burning to the ground,and now we are flooding.

Perhaps we Aussies should start building an Ark...!!!


Tony

I have some distant relatives in Australia as well as relatives of my late friend Lizzie, can't remember where they are but I think my relatives are close to Queensland altho the other family are elsewhere in Australia.

I feel so sorry for everyone suffering from this flooding, it must be so frightening and soul destroying for all those who have lost their homes and businesses. However will those young people cope knowing their parents drowned beneath them on the roof of the house.

It takes long enough for people in Britain to recover from floods here, like Cornwall and Cumbria etc let alone such vast areas as happening in Australia.

I can only hope that the water recedes soon and more people can be found safe and their families intact.

Sending positive thoughts to all in peril.

Lizx

I

Having stayed for some time in '85 with my uncle in Queensland who had emigrated some 20 years earlier my heart goes out to those who have lost family, homes and lively hood.

Linda xx

Tony....l just don't know what to say. Watching the news earlier l cried. l think it was watching the horses struggling that really brought it home to me. Don't get me wrong the humans are suffering too, but the animals don't know whats happening and can't do anything. l realise the humans can't do alot but they atleast can communicate.....just seeing the animals made me realise just how bad this is. Hope you understand what l am saying??

Its just horrendous.

Take care
jude

The Aussie spirit is alive and well and these people are coping with amazing strength, bravery and community spirit. Bless them all.

Sue xx

Sending love to all those affected by the flooding x

Thankyou for the updates Tony, my thoughts are with all those affected, and those trying to help them.

Our thoughts are with you all, hope and pray that all my relations in Australia are okay.
Heather Gillis xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Just read your very comprehensive details of these devastating floods in Queensland and read out the details to my friend whose daughter lives in Ashgrove Brisbane which I believe is a bit higher up than the lower areas affected,although it is only 5 mins into town.She is also a midwife in the hospital there.
My daughter is now in Wheelers Hill to look after her brother's children during the school holidays.You may remember that their mum died in June.
It hasn't stopped raining since my daughter arrived,so she is stuck mainly in the house apart from a trip to Glen Waverley.Hope it clears by week-end.
Thanks for all the info.It is headline news on our TV.My heart goes out to all the people there.

Brenda x

Cannot believe what we are seeing on tv and the size of the area affected. Thoughts and prayers go out to you all there.

There are many heart breaking stories coming out of Queensland.

I thought the thread was important to add, as i know many people on these boards live, have family members, or friends living in Queensland..... as i do myself.
I also sure that many of those living O/seas would have family or friends living in Queensland also, and at some stage or rather, perhaps visited or holidayed in this state, and might perhaps like to keep up with whats happening.

I know there is the Tele ( Sky News - ABC - World News) and Face book - Twitter ect.......that peeps can visit or watch, but the thread allows those to type their thoughts and best wishes, to allow others to know they are not forgotten in a time of crisis.

The flooded area and damage in Queensland is so huge it does make it hard to comprehend even to those of us that live here, and to think that the worst may still be to come as rivers and major water ways fill to capacity, peak, and burst their banks is something no one can predict.

I was reading elsewhere that someone had said. "Why don't the people of this state just leave everything and come back when the waters subside"??.....

The only trouble is there is no way out in many cases, and many major roads are under water, and many small towns and communities were isolated so quick they wouldn't have had time to escape. Many of these floods are "Flash Floods" and they come from anywhere, without warning, and with such a force.

One could jump in the car perhaps with family and travel 100kms down the road only to find it 2 or 3 metres underwater, and then suddenly from nowhere a raging wall of water picks them up and carries them away. Many cars are being seen floating down the flooding rivers, that could have come from miles and miles away.

Was watching on the News to-night about a family of 4 in a small community whose walls of there house was pushed inwards from a wall of water rushing down the river gullies upon them ( no warning )
The father and mother were trapped in the kitchen from the sudden force of water and debris rushing in, and the father sang out to his two children to safe themselves. The eldest teenage son pushed his younger sister up through the manhole and into the roof ceiling cavity, then quickly climbed up himself.
He looked back down through the ceiling man hole,looking around to see where his parents were, and realised the inside of house had been virtually gutted in seconds from ceiling to floor, one end of the house to the other, along with his parents...Gone!!
Both parents were found later....both dead.
All this took approx 4 min to happen from go to woe.

We were very greatful to have our daughter safely home in Victoria, as she is not "Streetwise" ( so to speak ) to other states disasters, and wrong thinking could be the difference between life and death in this situation..


Brisbane in itself is Australia's 3rd most populated capital city, next to Sydney NSW and Melbourne VICTORIA with a population of 2 million people itself.......with Queensland the 2nd largest state in Australia, and for 3 quarters of this state to be virtually flooded or under water is mind boggling.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts, and adding my own thoughts and prayers to all those affected by this tragedy.

There are still many folk missing, and until the waters subside ( which could be days,weeks, months ) the authorities will not know the true count of deceased.

Tony

I have been watching the floods via Disaster Watch Tony and find it hard to believe what's happening over there,it's like watching a disaster movie ,and very upsetting to see.
My cousin is fortunate in living in Balmoral Heights and should be safe enough,but it looks like many have lost their homes.and worse rellies.
As said ,what a lousy way to start the new year,Fred.