Australian Flood Disaster.
Jan. 11th, 2011 06:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misslj_authorThis is a post to help boost the signal about the floods in Queensland. As of 6:41pm ACDST, 75% of the state of Queensland is declared a disaster zone. The news is reporting this as the greatest disaster ever and the worst is yet to come. I'll update this post as information comes to hand.
To give some idea to non-Aussies what this means: pick a US coastal capital city. Let's say Boston, for this hypothesis. Now, imagine that waters travelling at 7000 cubic square meters per second are heading towards Boston and can't be stopped. The soil is so sodden that it can't absorb any more water. The run off is nearly 5 foot deep in some places. And it's heading towards Boston and Boston has no precise idea of where that water is going to hit first but the people living there know at least some 6500 homes are in the path of the water. 15000 other buildings are in the path of the water. They have to evacuate.
But they can't evacuate north, because there's just water. Everywhere. And it's still raining. They can't evacuate south, because the water's moving south too. East? Well, that's the ocean. Which leaves west. Which is fine... except the water is heading that way, too. Well, we'll evacute to a mountain, you say. A mountain will be above the flood waters.
They said that in Toowoomba, too. It's had flash flooding. Cars, shipping containers, all pulled into the water in other parts of the state. Houses torn off their foundations in some parts of QLD. Some of the video footage taken by residents is horrifying.
Nine are dead so far. More than sixty are missing. The toll's going to rise. Find higher ground, the authorities are saying, because the Brisbane River has *just* this hour broken its banks.
New South Wales is under flood watch. So is Victoria. So is South Australia. Darwin isn't, but... it's raining in Darwin. Western Australia, so far, is dry. I hope that's not famous last words. This flooding has effected everything: mining, farming, residents. The water leaves behind mud and destruction and the rain keeps coming. Snakes are trying to escape the water by trying to get into people's houses.
The news has just reported that parts of the city center of Brisbane and the town of Ipswitch (where I have relatives) is evacuating right now. The Brisbane River has broken its banks. In northern New South Wales, towns and roads are cut off.
I'm just going to give one link. It's the ABC site tag of floods. I think it's enough. It's got everything on it. The ABC is about as intensive coverage as you can get, so this is your best bet. There's video reports if anyone's interested here, at the Channel 10 website and here, at the SBS website.
Please, please, if you can, donate. Other ways of helping are here.
Please feel free to share the links far and wide. Thanks.
ETA 1: This is the nineteenth day that Queensland has been coping with this. 8 dead, 72 missing, including children. The army is being flown in. Video from ABC News 24. The ABC web site have made the videos open viewing, so anyone around the world can watch them.
There's a crisis line to find out about family members. In Australia: 1300 993 191.
ETA 2: Ten now dead, 80 missing. There are grave fears for the safety of 18. Victoria is preparing for flash flooding with heavy rain forecast. Northern NSW towns are cut off as the floods there worsen. Brisbane River is now a trending topic on Twitter.
A bushfire in Western Australia which was deliberately lit, has left a trail of destruction. The fire's been contained, but strong winds are hampering attempts to keep it under control.
ETA 3: The latest from Brisbane.
The town of Harrisville, an hour south of Brisbane, is cut off.
Cairns is on storm alert.
More flash flooding expected for Toowoomba.
ETA 4: News report saying that the Bremer River is due to peak at 22meters, 1.5 meters higher than the 1974 flood. One third of Brisbane city is expected to be under water. Pontoons and unmanned boats are being swept downstream in Brisbane. As of 7am tomorrow, power will be turned off as a major power station is close to the flood waters. 230K megaliters of water is being released from the city dam which, in a sad irony, was built to ensure that a flood like the 1974 one didn't happen again. The water is being released bc the dam is at capacity - 200%. Some roads are so sodden, the tar is like spongey goo.
The PM is sending the Defence Force to help and making ready financial aid. China, Indonesia and the US has pledged help. So far, NZ is the only one to be taken up on the offer - the PM is asking other nations to wait for the moment as the help will be needed after the floods peak.
Footage from Toowoomba taken by a resident. This is footage of Chalk Drive / Chalk Lane Creek rising and washing away lots of cars during Flash Flood in Toowoomba on Monday 10 January 2011. One of my besties posts about her feelings and family up in Queensland right now.
And the experts are saying that we could easily have five states in flood by the end of the week.
Edited for clarification - I'm tired and words aren't my friends right now. Sorry for the mis-representation/lack of clarity.
ETA 5 (7am, 12th January 2011): It's Wednesday morning here and this is some of the latest:
* Brisbane a ghost town as it braces for the worst (with video).
* Victoria bracing as a fresh deluge heads towards it. Cars have been spotted floating in North Melbourne.
* Regional South Australia braces for serious storms.
* Facebook group - the latest update reads "Wivenhoe at 2,049,705 ML at 9am today. Total capacity is 2,600,00 ML."
* Natural enemies cooperate to get to safety - a frog hitches a ride on the back of a snake to flee the waters.
* Northern Tasmania on flood alert.
ETA 6: Brisbane and Ipswitch are "treading water". There are many ways to help flood victims. There is a Facebook group for fandom to fight the floods to raise money.
ETA 7: Animal welfare groups are organising to help. They need donations too. Animals Australia and The Wildlife Protection Association of Australia has established an emergency wildlife flood appeal, supported by Animals Australia. Queensland Flood Pet Options need donations and helpers and the QLD RSPCA has a donation site set up.
ETA 8: New day, new post.
To give some idea to non-Aussies what this means: pick a US coastal capital city. Let's say Boston, for this hypothesis. Now, imagine that waters travelling at 7000 cubic square meters per second are heading towards Boston and can't be stopped. The soil is so sodden that it can't absorb any more water. The run off is nearly 5 foot deep in some places. And it's heading towards Boston and Boston has no precise idea of where that water is going to hit first but the people living there know at least some 6500 homes are in the path of the water. 15000 other buildings are in the path of the water. They have to evacuate.
But they can't evacuate north, because there's just water. Everywhere. And it's still raining. They can't evacuate south, because the water's moving south too. East? Well, that's the ocean. Which leaves west. Which is fine... except the water is heading that way, too. Well, we'll evacute to a mountain, you say. A mountain will be above the flood waters.
They said that in Toowoomba, too. It's had flash flooding. Cars, shipping containers, all pulled into the water in other parts of the state. Houses torn off their foundations in some parts of QLD. Some of the video footage taken by residents is horrifying.
Nine are dead so far. More than sixty are missing. The toll's going to rise. Find higher ground, the authorities are saying, because the Brisbane River has *just* this hour broken its banks.
New South Wales is under flood watch. So is Victoria. So is South Australia. Darwin isn't, but... it's raining in Darwin. Western Australia, so far, is dry. I hope that's not famous last words. This flooding has effected everything: mining, farming, residents. The water leaves behind mud and destruction and the rain keeps coming. Snakes are trying to escape the water by trying to get into people's houses.
The news has just reported that parts of the city center of Brisbane and the town of Ipswitch (where I have relatives) is evacuating right now. The Brisbane River has broken its banks. In northern New South Wales, towns and roads are cut off.
I'm just going to give one link. It's the ABC site tag of floods. I think it's enough. It's got everything on it. The ABC is about as intensive coverage as you can get, so this is your best bet. There's video reports if anyone's interested here, at the Channel 10 website and here, at the SBS website.
Please, please, if you can, donate. Other ways of helping are here.
Please feel free to share the links far and wide. Thanks.
ETA 1: This is the nineteenth day that Queensland has been coping with this. 8 dead, 72 missing, including children. The army is being flown in. Video from ABC News 24. The ABC web site have made the videos open viewing, so anyone around the world can watch them.
There's a crisis line to find out about family members. In Australia: 1300 993 191.
ETA 2: Ten now dead, 80 missing. There are grave fears for the safety of 18. Victoria is preparing for flash flooding with heavy rain forecast. Northern NSW towns are cut off as the floods there worsen. Brisbane River is now a trending topic on Twitter.
A bushfire in Western Australia which was deliberately lit, has left a trail of destruction. The fire's been contained, but strong winds are hampering attempts to keep it under control.
ETA 3: The latest from Brisbane.
The town of Harrisville, an hour south of Brisbane, is cut off.
Cairns is on storm alert.
More flash flooding expected for Toowoomba.
ETA 4: News report saying that the Bremer River is due to peak at 22meters, 1.5 meters higher than the 1974 flood. One third of Brisbane city is expected to be under water. Pontoons and unmanned boats are being swept downstream in Brisbane. As of 7am tomorrow, power will be turned off as a major power station is close to the flood waters. 230K megaliters of water is being released from the city dam which, in a sad irony, was built to ensure that a flood like the 1974 one didn't happen again. The water is being released bc the dam is at capacity - 200%. Some roads are so sodden, the tar is like spongey goo.
The PM is sending the Defence Force to help and making ready financial aid. China, Indonesia and the US has pledged help. So far, NZ is the only one to be taken up on the offer - the PM is asking other nations to wait for the moment as the help will be needed after the floods peak.
Footage from Toowoomba taken by a resident. This is footage of Chalk Drive / Chalk Lane Creek rising and washing away lots of cars during Flash Flood in Toowoomba on Monday 10 January 2011. One of my besties posts about her feelings and family up in Queensland right now.
And the experts are saying that we could easily have five states in flood by the end of the week.
Edited for clarification - I'm tired and words aren't my friends right now. Sorry for the mis-representation/lack of clarity.
ETA 5 (7am, 12th January 2011): It's Wednesday morning here and this is some of the latest:
* Brisbane a ghost town as it braces for the worst (with video).
* Victoria bracing as a fresh deluge heads towards it. Cars have been spotted floating in North Melbourne.
* Regional South Australia braces for serious storms.
* Facebook group - the latest update reads "Wivenhoe at 2,049,705 ML at 9am today. Total capacity is 2,600,00 ML."
* Natural enemies cooperate to get to safety - a frog hitches a ride on the back of a snake to flee the waters.
* Northern Tasmania on flood alert.
ETA 6: Brisbane and Ipswitch are "treading water". There are many ways to help flood victims. There is a Facebook group for fandom to fight the floods to raise money.
ETA 7: Animal welfare groups are organising to help. They need donations too. Animals Australia and The Wildlife Protection Association of Australia has established an emergency wildlife flood appeal, supported by Animals Australia. Queensland Flood Pet Options need donations and helpers and the QLD RSPCA has a donation site set up.
ETA 8: New day, new post.
