Gatchamania.net - Print: Queensland Floods

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Posted by Madilayn on 10-01-2011 at 00:34:

Queensland Floods

The rain not only raineth, it *oops*ing poureth and floodeth!

As of when I am typing this (having just come from a Flood Distaster Recovery ICT meeting), and with another major rain event happing in south east Queensland

- Rockhampton (Central Queensland) is still under water - with at least 10 days before the water receeds.

- Bundaberg - (Central Queensland) - water receeding

- Maryborough & Gympie - disappearing under the Mary River!

- Dalby - is next!

- Emerald - under 13m of water

- Brisbane - soggy and starting to flood in low lieing areas

To put it in perspective - if you look at a map of Queensland and find Rockhampton - from there, out to the state border with the Northern Territory and then down to the NSW border has flooding. That is roughly half the state - and an area larger than Texas.

From Brisbane, travelling north, you cannot get further than the outskirts of Gympie. The main highway travells through Gympie (which is flooded).

If you want to look at the extent of it all, have a look at the Qld Floods website

Perhaps International Rescue is an option.......

__________________

"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart

Posted by clouddancer on 10-01-2011 at 00:45:

Or maybe we should send up the team to hunt for the storm mecha that is hidden in the rain clouds.

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Posted by SJ_SwanJun on 10-01-2011 at 00:50:

Wow, babe .... That's just incredible -- but not in a good way of course.

My Mum, as you know, lives about 40km out of Rockhampton in Yeppoon. She's giving me daily reports of things around that area, but she seems to be doing okay. My sis lives down at Emu-something (she and I aren't exactly tight) ... and they seem to be holding on okay. They're struggling for fresh fruit and veggies up there, but they're getting supplies ... She said they had Julia-someone up there a couple of days ago (Premier, maybe?), but she could offer no more help than what they're already doing. People are stressed, but fortunately with Yeppoon moving into a holiday area, there are homes available to help some of those who are stranded...

Apparently the ferry-guy is making a killing out of things by transporting the tourists to an area where they can catch a plane back home ... $125 a head, apparently ... Mum's certainly not impressed by that, but at least he's there to help out... and it's better than the $600 a week the homeowners are charging the stranded to stay in their homes. Mum said that multiple families were bunking in a single home, so financially the burdon is eased somewhat But that said, she's of the opinion that people are making money off this disaster and she's not real happy about it.

She's donated alot of clothing and blankets to try to do her bit... She says it's a good thing she had so many visitors over the Christmas break, so she has plenty to pass along.

The whole world is watching this unfold, babe. Over here in Toronto, it's on the news daily ... Shame there is little that can be done right now to help out.

Hold firm, babe. I know you're as busy as all heck right now ...

Best wishes and much lighting of incense for those in the middle of this mess!

Has there been a donation line set up? Please share if there are any links for us...

__________________

Sighhh

Why do men snore when lying on their backs?
Because their balls fall over their butt holes and they vapour lock.

Posted by Madilayn on 10-01-2011 at 00:50:

I'm starting to think that's the cause, Cloud!

This La Nina and El Nino - not really natural weather patterns but a pair of Galactor/Spectran Captains who take turns to harrass the southern hemisphere....

__________________

"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart

Posted by amethyst on 10-01-2011 at 01:02:

Fingers crossed for you. Been through a few floods. Only thing I can think of worse is fires (and I've been through earthquakes and tornadoes, too).

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Posted by Madilayn on 10-01-2011 at 01:13:

quote:

She said they had Julia-someone up there a couple of days ago

Julia Gilliard - current Prime Minister of Australia. Anna Bligh is the Qld Premier.

As for donations - they desperately need money, not goods as they can't actually get the goods through.

If you visit the floods website (link in the first post) you can make donations through there.

It's shaming to think that there are people trying to profiteer out of this - I don't mind covering costs, but to blatantly profiteer is just plain wrong! (and really un-Australian - very anti our Mateship creed!)

And it's not as if the money is any good to them at the moment!

The problem is that for those tourists who are stranded, the motels are filling up with media and the evacuation centres are filling with locals. However - they are urged to go to the evac centres.

To get out of Rocky- if you can get north to Mackay or south to Gladstone, you can get a flight out.

Once again - our Emergency Services people are amazing. The Swiftwater Rescue guys have been on duty since just before Christmas (most of them have not been home since about 22 December when they started to be deployed). Firies (Urban, Rural and the Auxiliaries) are in a similar situation, as are the Ambos and the incredible SES volunteers.

When you think that in those regional areas, a lot of the SES people are ALSO Rural or Auxiliary Fire volunteers, you see just how much they care for their communities.

Yeah - I love these guys and its times like this when I am incredibly proud to work for Emergency Services.

__________________

"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart

Posted by RIgirl on 10-01-2011 at 01:50:

Oh, wow, Maddy! That's just amazing ... and heartbreaking ... and more than a little scary about how, even with all of our technology, we are all still very much at the mercy of the weather and natural disasters ...

Much appreciation to the emergency rescue workers -- it takes truly special people to do those jobs!

Hang in there! Though it sounds like you guys might want to start thinking about building an ark mecha ...

__________________
"It is a rare man that is taken for what he truly is...We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream...." Peter S. Beagle

Posted by Garnet on 10-01-2011 at 02:10:

The weather just keeps getting screwier and screwier.

The images I've seen certainly are amazing. It's sad to think that so many people have been forced from their homes and livelihoods over this. And the thought of people using this as a means to make money for themselves is abhorant. This is a time for lending a helping hand taking advantage of the displaced.

I have to agree that the Emergency Services people are wonderful. They are the ones who go above and beyond all expectation for their communitees, and they never get the honor the deserv.

I'm with Lee. An Ark Mecha is sounding pretty good about now..

Posted by Ebonyswanne on 10-01-2011 at 03:45:

SJ- Julia Gillard the Prime minister has been up in those areas recently assessing the damage etc....

Looks like its not getting any better for you Maddy, my SIL is over the raining and flooding too, she lives in QLD.

I missed a few posts, its a disgrace that people are doing that to those stranded by floods to ask so much money per week just for a room to sleep in. (Nothing wrong with asking they contribute when it comes to the grocery bill, after all food is expensive, and charity can only go so far.)

Honestly, I'd buy a tent and live in a caravan park until I could go home if someone asked $600 a week rent when you're stranded like that.

__________________
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.

Posted by Pufles65 on 10-01-2011 at 04:32:

Maddy - El Nino and La Nina aren't very nice systems. I knew they liked messing up the northern hemisphere I'd never heard that they affected the southern hemisphere as well. Frown I hate to hear that people are exploiting the stranded but very happy to hear of all the services people helping those still stranded.
Praying hard that the rain slacks off and things can recover as quick as possible. Huggles to you on your own Emergency Services contributions. Smile

Posted by Crescent_Moon on 10-01-2011 at 08:29:

Toowoomba (a city on a mountain range!) is copping it now. I'm stunned, that's not something I thought I'd ever see. There are already a few people missing, and looking at the amount and force of the water that's likely to increase.

Video of Toowoomba flood and state flood map (on the right)

Posted by Madilayn on 10-01-2011 at 08:36:

Yes- that happened today and late this afternoon.

This just seems to be getting worse and worse - any prayers would be much appreciated.

__________________

"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart

Posted by gatchamarie on 10-01-2011 at 11:29:

My heart always breaks when I hear such news! I just can't help always reminding myself how me and my loved ones are lucky not to be likely hit by similar, large scale disasters! It's already hard to hear, and see, anything related to what's going on ... I can only just think how all the people, who are directly concerned might feel! I'm so with all those people who are suffering with my prayers! As I'm with those who give their everything to help, when I'm not capable to do so, together with my full admiration! At least, their hard work, and dedication, aid in overshadowing my thoughts, full of disgust, towards those who play unfair, and take advantage of those in need!

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Posted by Ebonyswanne on 10-01-2011 at 21:58:

Hugs Maddy- watch out for that wall of water headed towards Brisbane. Toowoomba looks shocking from the news reports after that inland sunami hit it.

One of close friends sister lives in Toowoomba and her brother hasn't been able to get in touch with her, I just hope its in all the confusion and she's turned up by now or he's been able to get in touch with someone who knows were she is.

I felt my heart reach out to the poor people caught in the white car floating down river on the news, how terrifying for them, seconds count in that situation. It just hit so suddenly within seconds the town was under water.

__________________
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.

Posted by littlewolf on 10-01-2011 at 23:25:

Lets take out this mecha, turn it into sand bags , add the captains to the levee and try and re-direct the water to WA - who, apparently are having bush fires (this weather is nuts)

Rumor has it we will still be raining till march,
Northern NSW is again braceing for the floodwater from QLD to come down - again

That Ark is looking good, do you do small ones? have a few family members to pick up before we head to Ayers Rock

Big thanks to our local volunteer

as for the looters and profiteerers , lets go biblical on them- bit of smitting may make peoplewho are stranded feel a little better (I am not encouraging mob mentality, we will use nuff balls and foam and they float)

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May the bad things get lost on the way to you door!

Posted by Ebonyswanne on 10-01-2011 at 23:39:

Typical Australian summer....floods at one end of the country, bushfires else on the other.

My friends sister is okay, a little wet but okay...

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Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.

Posted by lborgia88 on 11-01-2011 at 00:58:

My heart goes out to everyone affected. Nature is a random and mindless beast. I hope the situation improves soon so people can go home and begin to recover.

Posted by Becky Rock on 11-01-2011 at 01:02:

Been internetless for the past week, so I'm catching up. Sounds horrible. The midwest gets some flooding like that every few years.

My thoughts are with everyone affected.

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Posted by Madilayn on 11-01-2011 at 02:06:

...... Brisbane going under. Please send Ark!!

Yes - our major dam, Wivenhoe, is now well over 100% full - and the "backup" storage (built for flood mitigation) is full so the dam is about to start trickling over the top of its walls.

This is a major event - not since 1974 has South East Queensland (Brisbane, Ipswich, Redcliffe, Gold Coast) had such a massive chance of flooding.

And yet..... Much of the mitigation work done after 1974 has done its work and it is really only very low lying areas that are affected. (those that flood if somebody spits in the wrong direction, and those that are always at risk).

Belive me - if it wasn't for Wivenhoe, then the entire city of Brisbane would be well and truly flooded out by now.

Unfortunately, the people of Toowoomba, Withcott and Grantham have it worse than us. Death toll from the tragedy there yesterday stands at 8 with 75 missing. The worst thing about it all is that there were cars washed away - and nobody knows if there were people in those cars.

If you see any video, you may have seen a car with a family in it - well, the chopper grabbed a rescuer to try to find them, but by the time they got back, they couldnt find the car. Nobody knows if that family made it out.

However- Queenslanders are a tough lot. We may be soggy, but we're not out yet. As long as the XXXX (Fourex) brewery is pumping out the amber liquid, we'll be fine.

And whilst we loved the rain (after 10 years of drought) - it would be nice if it would just stop. Now.

Funnily enough - when we were in drought, there was a website called "Water Forever" - well, we're getting the water forever. Just all at once, it would seem.

From my desk, I can hear the torrential rain on the roof of the building I work in - fair enough. I work on the top floor.

Please send gumboots and somebody capable of building an Ark. I believe there is some bloke called Noah who knows what he's doing....... (and on another aside - Brisbane has had 40 days and 40 nights of rain)

__________________

"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart

Posted by Ebonyswanne on 11-01-2011 at 02:07:

IB the flood waters are just reaching QLD's capital city Brisbane now, it won't be over for a while it yet it appears. At least they have some notice to get out. The people in Toowoomba didn't have any so they had to scramble to rooftops as an 8mtr wall of water came at them. A situation I'd to have been in thats for sure.

__________________
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.