General Chat

Hi Tony,

Watching this disaster unfolding is quite surreal. It is so hard to take in the devastation. We are getting regular updates on our radio and television stations.

NZ has sent over some rescue workers to do what they can to help.

I wish we could do more...

Susan

Well done Tony on this thread, you have explained everything that has happened and what will happen so clearly, as well as how people are trying to cope with such a disaster and families waiting for news of their loved ones. Thank you

Glad that your daughter arrived home safely before all this happened.

We have close friends who live in Moggill, one of the Brisbane suburbs under threat of flooding. I emailed them last night ..... and got a reply back this morning.

They are worried, of course, but think they will be OK. They live in one of the old Queensland houses, built up on stilts to allow air to circulate under the hosue (the original air conditioning!) ................ and were dry on the main floor in the last major floods in 1974. So they are hoping they will be dry this time as well.

BUT they had been exceptionally worried for a few hours earlier .... two of their grandchildren were staying with their other grandparents in Toowoomba when the surge of water went through there. Fortunately, they eventually made contact with the children, and they had not been in any danger. In fact, they had been in the movie theatre when the surge went through!



Thank you for keeping us updated, Tony



sylvia

Hi Tony,and everyone on this thread,

I have a brother Neville and his family living in Rockhampton also a sister Carmel and her Son.
They both live in the Depot Hill area which is still under water Nev's home escaped being inundated by 5 cm's , they packed all the furniture & took it to their's son's house

They moved 2 weeks ago when the water started to come into their property, and they say it will be another week before they will be allowed back as the electricty is still off .

The water is receding very slowly.

My sister also got out early and went to the evacuation centre at the University over North Rockhampton, I still havent heard from her.
I am not worried as I actually saw her sitting next to the Prim Minister when she visited the evacuation center, no doubt she will call me when they are allowed back home.

I have cousins who live at Zilmere I think they will be ok and I also have a cousin at Roachdale, I dont think the flood will affect them.,I also have a cousin out at Sinnamon Park which I think is north of Wacol I do hope she is ok.

In all the years I have lived, I have never seen so much flooding with all the Major rivers in QLD in flood at the same time, and I have seen a lot of flooding in my time.

I fear this will continue for some time as the wet season in the north has only just begun, and if their is another cyclone this disaster could be repeated.

To all our cousins in the UK please say some prayers for those who are suffering the loss of their Loved ones and their homes,please pray that everyone will find the strength to carry on.

Thank you for your concern and thank you Tony for letting every one know how bad it is.

Marie from Bathurst NSW Australia.

I have a niece in GAtton whose family are fine however her optometrist business has been destroyed.

my OH nephew lived in Sinnamon Park and he is fine too as he is high up on that development area, but are without power, and cant get out of the suburb.


Its raining very hard here today, so you can understand just how Aus wide this weather system is, the wind is warm strong and full of water.
Annette
Albury NSW

FLOOD UPDATE.

Brisbane's inner-city workers are emptying the capital as floodwaters break the
banks of the Brisbane River, with over 6000 properties expected to go under when it
peaks on Thursday.

Locals are describing the situation in Brisbane as "mild panic" as city workers rushed
to evacuate, clogging public transport and highways.
The SES have advised for all affected areas to brace themselves for the day ahead
which threatens to be a repeat of the past 24 hours.

ABOUT 56,000 properties are without power in southeast Queensland, with more to follow
as the flood crisis continues, Energex says.
Spokesman Bill Lyon said there were still plans to progressively shut off power to
large parts of the CBD, with Energex waiting for final talks with disaster managers.

"We expect to have the CBD this afternoon pretty much isolated down in the
lower part ... and also along the Brisbane River we're taking out equipment
to minimise damage," Mr Lyon told the ABC.

He said repair crews were still unable to reach many flood-hit communities,
particularly in the Lockyer Valley where flash floods have torn through towns.

"We cannot get access to assess the situation," he said

Today, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman warned the worst of the flooding was yet to come,
with Thursday likely to be ‘‘devastating’’.

Cr Newman said latest flood modelling suggested 6500 properties could be
inundated, with 16,500 to be partially affected.

However, since then authorities have updated their modelling.
Brisbane City Council has released a new flood map showing the likely affected areas,
with as much as 12,000 cubic metres of water expected to be flowing out of the Brisbane River per second on Thursday at 3am.

Premier Anna Bligh now says up to 40,000 homes could be affected.


Rain continues to fall widely across Queensland and is not expected
to ease until late in the week.

Experts have been blaming this, and the exceptionally dry conditions in Western Australia,
on the worst La Nina on record - a result of rising ocean temperatures over the
last 100 years.

‘‘It’s just a mass exodus from the Brisbane CBD,’’ Ms Campion said from her home in Brisbane’s north.

‘‘It’s actually scary - it’s not something I’ve seen here."

Her husband also left work and rushed to their local supermarket which was inundated by shoppers stocking up on supplies.
‘‘There’s no bread, there’s no D batteries and the local Coles is packed,’’ Ms Campion said

A number of buildings in the CBD and Fortitude Valley were self-evacuated, with Eagle Street at the pier now under water, according to police.

At South Bank, the Brisbane River has broken its banks, with water lapping across the riverside boardwalks in front of the State Library and Performing Arts Centre and CityCat stops underwater.

Ian Mitchell walked from his South Brisbane home to have a look at the swollen river.

“I came about midday but now I think it’s risen about 200 or 300 millimetres,” he said.

In the Queen Street Mall, most shops are closed, including the Myer Centre. Some have displayed signs alerting customers they have shut their doors due to the floods.

Broadway On the Mall, Myer and Hungary Jacks have also pulled their shutters down.

West End residents have been urged to move to higher ground, while the river has also reportedly breached its banks at New Farm and Auchenflower.

North of the city, Caboolture has been totally isolated while Strathpine residents are also being told to make for higher ground.

Roads are crowded and thousands of people are flocking to use public transport as the CBD empties.

Brisbane Airport remains open. There have been reports that buildings in the neighbouring suburb of Pinkenba are taking water and residents have been urged to seek higher ground.

Earlier today, the gates were thrown open to commuters at Brisbane's Central Station.

Translink spokesperson Andrew Berkman asked customers to be patient throughout the afternoon peak.

“The weather and associated flooding has impacted on all modes of public transport, with bus, ferry and train services all impacted to varying degrees,” Mr Berkman said.


Brisbane suburbs likely to be affected by flooding:

Brisbane City
Bulimba
Chelmer
Coorparoo
East Brisbane
Fairfield
Fig Tree Pocket
Fortitude Valley
Graceville
Hemmant
Indooroopilly
Kangaroo Point
Lytton
Milton
Moggill
Murrarie
New Farm
Newstead
Norman Park
Oxley
Pinkenba
Rocklea
Sherwood
South Brisbane
Tennyson
Yeronga
Yerongpilly
Windsor
Wacol

FB can be a wonderful tool... Cut and paste from a friend's status: "CAN ANYONE HELP THIS LADY??????? Debra Ryan HELP NEEDED - my stallion is at Deception Bay with flood water rising. I need any one at Deception Bay with a spare stallion yard. I can't get a float to him. I need to swim him out. He is near blue pacific drive ring 0403698827 PLEASE. CUT. AND PASTE p...assing it along can anyone help this lady.... PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN !!!!!!!!!""
14 hours ago ·

Tony,I'm glad that your daughter has returned safely from her holiday.I was just talking with my sister this morning,she's in Newmarket and said that the "Wall of water" is about 3 suburbs away from them.They are waiting until the floods peak at 4am tomorrow to see whether they will be flooded or not.They have no fresh water,but have power,a landline and mobile reception at the moment.She said that an area 3/4 the size of Queensland is under water at the moment,with more properties expected
to be affected.I just can't imagine the scale of that water,a disaster of these proportions has never happened here before,areas that have never experienced floods are now under water.I heard on the news that 40,000
homes were under water,or was that 400,000? After a while you just go numb thinking of the scale of destruction.My heart goes out to the people of Toowoomba and the other areas which have already been affected,and to the people who will be affected, I hope you all can find safe shelter from these floods.

Thank you Tony,for putting this on this board, you are doing a great job!

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Sending love to all those affected by the flooding x

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

Sue 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

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

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

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