BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011

Subject: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: freda underhill
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 05:00 AM

Northeastern Australiahas been experiencing severe floods since October 2010. The floods have forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. At least 22 towns and over 200,000 people have been affected, and it seems to be getting worse.

Vast areas of Southern and Central Queensland, an area the size of Germany and France combined, are affected by the floods. About 300 roads have been closed, including nine major highways.

There's been a bit of mention of these floods on the "what's the weather like where you are" thread. But the water keeps rising, and people are dying. The floods are much worse than those in previous years. In some places the floods have been compared to an inland tsunami.

Here's a link to a video of yesterday's flash flood in Toowoomba

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 05:45 AM

Fortunately, my daughter who did a camping trip in Queensland in roughly early December while visiting her brother in Sydney while travelling for several months' got out in time, although she was less than polite about local weather.

What we are not hearing is whether the flooding is due to innate geography or poor rainwater (or river flood) management, long term infrastrucuture neglect, or what.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: freda underhill
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 06:15 AM

Richard, I'm glad your daughter left the area in time. The floods have resulted from heavy rains caused by Tropical Cyclone Tasha that combined with a trough during the peak of a La Niña event. Brisbane experienced its wettest December since 1859.

The 2010 La Niña weather pattern is the strongest since 1973. Professor Roger Stone is a climatologist from the University of Southern Queensland and Australia's representative for the UN commission on climatology and agricultural meteorology. He says the La Nina weather pattern, which is currently pushing monsoonal conditions over parts of Australia, is the same as the one experienced in the lead-up to the 1974 floods.

The Wivenhoe Dam was built in the aftermath of 1974 as Brisbane's defence against another major flood. But the dam may not be enough.

Isolated flooding started across parts of the state in early December 09. On 24 December a monsoonal trough crossed the coast from the Coral Sea, bringing torrential rain that fell in a broad swath from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Gold Coast. The conditions also led to a large influx of snakes, as well as some crocodiles.

The heavy rains caused by the La Nina weather phenomenon may continue for months.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 07:23 AM

I've a brother and family living in Glen View, QLD. It seems they are OK but the floods sound awful.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 07:25 AM

More pictures of Brisbane on todays news-absolutely awful. Keep saafe everyone.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: GUEST,Ringer
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 07:28 AM

Memory Vault is cross about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Hrothgar
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 08:30 AM

Well, we're safe here because we live on the side of a hill (and the slope is not steep enough for landslides).

The trouble is that it has been raining on and off since October, and the grouns is saturated, so now everything that falls runs off instead of soaking in.

The Wivenhoe Dam holds an enormous volume of water (nearly twice its official capacity as a water supply), and this has a moderating effect on water levels in Brisbane, but it is so close to absolutely full the they are letting some of the water out, and this is combining with a high tide to inundate some low lying areas of Brisbane. The wort combnation of river flow and tide is expected on Thursday.

Levels then will be as high as or higher than in 1974, when we had serious flooding. A large number of people who have since bought flood-prone properties on the principle that it won't happen for another hundred years are now a bit nervous.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: quokka
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 10:22 AM

10 confirmed dead, 80 missing so far. Tomorrow and Thursday predicted to be worse in Brisbane, they have a king tide tomorrow on top of the floods. Just devastating. I'm on the other side of the country, and here we have a major bushfire that has destroyed homes, one of which is owned by someone trapped in the Queensland floods. Our hearts go out to all suffering these disasters.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 11:07 AM

The online photos are a nightmare. Stay safe folks.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: quokka
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 11:09 AM

3/4 of Queensland has been declared a disaster area...that's bigger than a lot of countries so probably hard to plan for something like this, Richard. Last time was in 1974, and looks like this is even worse than that one.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 12:17 PM

The 1953/4 floods on the Hoo peninsular and the Isle of Grain (my patch) resulted in major improvements to sea defences and there has been no repetition (so far) but neglect of inland ditches and moronic decisions about putting streams into pipes inhibit effective rainwater runoff into Yantlett creek resulting in flood risks in my village - solely the result of neglect and stupidity. Once upon a time rainwater runoff went harmlessly and effectively to the Yantlett.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 02:08 PM

From what I saw it makes Katrina look small. Brisbane take cover, is coming down.

20 ft walls of water in some places after more cloudbursts.

Streams in pipes is never a good idea.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 02:40 PM

I saw the news of the floods shortly after getting news from Cloudstreet that they've moved back to city living in Brisbane.... I hope John or Nicole will report on this thread some time...?

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Joybell
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 03:19 PM

New South Wales is affected too -- although so far not so badly. Now we have flood warnings in Victoria. Here in South-West Victoria it's been raining hard all night. We've had 15 years of severe drought but because there are no major river systems here, and it's a flat plane, the rain should soak in.
Take care everyone along the huge river systems of Eastern Aus.
Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 05:25 PM

Warwick (know people there) got new rains yesterday (and continuing) and some evacuations taking place today. (Queensland).

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: maeve
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 05:43 PM

I'm keeping track of the flood news. Such an uncontrolled force! I hope the flooding will subside and that sufficient help is available.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: freda underhill
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 06:29 PM

Here's articles and photos about what's happening inIpswich,Gympie, Grantham, and in Brisbane.

And as mentioned by Joybell, the floods are spreading to NSW.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Tangledwood
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 08:14 PM

"I saw the news of the floods shortly after getting news from Cloudstreet that they've moved back to city living in Brisbane.... I hope John or Nicole will report on this thread some time...?"

John and Nicole are at an event down in Victoria at present so they are safe. I haven't seen their new residence but it's in a higher area, not one of the suburbs expected to be flooded.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Tangledwood
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 08:26 PM

This morning is the first rain-free one for several days so shoppers are out in force at the local Woollies. The store has been unable to restock so there is no milk left, either fresh or long-life, and not much bread left. This is not an at risk area but many of the main access roads are closed.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: freda underhill
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 09:16 PM

Has anyone heard from Foolestroupe?

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: maeve
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 09:25 PM

Yes, Freda. He posted several times on the "Weather" thread, and said there he was ok. Here's a link: What's the Weather Like Where You Are?

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: JennieG
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 09:35 PM

Yesterday the New England Hwy was closed at Tenterfield, a couple or so hours north from here. So far, according to our local paper, it is affecting attendance at the country music festival here because many Queenslanders arrive with their caravan/motorhome but they are optimistic that many people who haven't yet arrived may still be able to make it. That includes performers as well as audiences. One couple here yesterday watched their home in Ipswich go under, on TV - they said their daughter was looking after things for them, but you could tell they were very worried just the same.

The effects of this flood will reach a long way.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 01:55 AM

JR

There was a story on the news that one couple were at their home in the Queensland floods and at the same time lost their other home in the Western Australian fires !

..." Of drought and flooding rains" indeed

AD

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 05:56 AM

I'm ok - in Toowoomba - the Flash Flood went by the end of the street (one house away from corner) I'm at - we drove home 20 mins before thru the path of it.... missed it by THAT much! We didn't hear a thing - heavy rain on roof.

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Traffic-cameras-by-location/Traffic-cameras.aspx?name=Toowoomba+Range+-+Saddle+%28East%29

Some traffic cameras around... road between here and Brissie tragic - police taking convoys to Gatton if they can prove they live there. Can't get to Brisbane - allegedly over 100 trucks marooned here. Over 1800 truck movements a day thru Toowoomba. Range road was closed due to landslides - north highway also closed due to landslides - other ways out of town crippled by bridge flooding, sun shining now... :-)

Thanks for thinking about me - home in Brissie is on a hilltop - probably won't get there atm.... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 06:23 AM

Richard - the SOI needs only to be + 7 for it to be a el nina situation - currently the SOI is + 27.... :-) No amount of planning can forestall anything when people live on flood plains - which is most of Australia. Especially when about twice the amount of rain that fell in the 1974 flood comes down - the Wivenhoe dam was designed to handle the 1974 flood volume...

The Darling downs flash flood - we had about 130mm in 30 mins in Toowoomba... that is not 'normal' ...

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Brian May
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 07:38 AM

Plague of frogs next.

Reliable sources state that President Sarkhozy is still in France currently . . . so relax.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: freda underhill
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 07:57 AM

:-D

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 09:58 AM

Last night I started a thread on the floods - it took sooooo long that freda had posted her thread by the time mine appeared

BS: Floods in Australia - 2011 - check out the video 'Amateur captures nature's fury'- Toowoomba resident captures the extraordinary moment when the Chalk Lane Creek overflowed, carrying away cars. (Toowoomba is apparently built on a marsh between hills, not a good place to put a city. The ground is so saturated from the recent heavy rain that it won't take any more rain.)

I've been listening to the special flood broadcast - Brisbane radio since I came home 3 & a half hours ago

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 10:51 AM

I watched the cars get swept away in disbelief, hope everyone stays safe.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Brian May
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 01:44 PM

Seriously, as the father of a daughter living on the Christchurch, NZ fault line . . .

Best of luck Oz, we can only wish you the best of luck, let's hope the floodwater recedes as soon as possible.

I suppose, in the longer term, it will restore an enormous amount of fertility to the farmland.

Good luck all.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: JennieG
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 04:38 PM

We have a couple of frogs in our beer garden....does this mean the plague has started?

Cheers
JennieG (who doesn't 'do' reptiles/amphibians......)

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 06:33 PM

The Brisbane River has peaked and was lower than expected - levels on the way down. Much flooding on some areas of Brisbane was due to storm water drains backup rather than river banks overflowing. Minimal rain for last 36 hours has helped.

Some places here in Twba had water sweeping down hills into houses (and an old folks home) and flooded carpets - these designs look nice, but a couple of inches to water flowing down a slope that prettily leads into your lounge room, in hindsight, but not clever...

Another big band approaching from the West - top may miss Qld, but will sweep across NSW.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Tangledwood
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 09:28 PM

I suppose, in the longer term, it will restore an enormous amount of fertility to the farmland.

Unfortunately much of that farmland will be in Moreton Bay.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 12:29 AM

think of the opals tha will get washed up.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Brian May
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 07:50 AM

Then it will re-fertilize all the Moreton Bay folk songs et al.

Best of luck though, it's an exquisite agony watching flood water encroaching and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 07:58 AM

A sad experience for all - time to move to the desert perhaps?

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Beer
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 08:07 AM

Yesterday while watching the devestation of the flood waters, News here in Canada showed a clip of a lady being interviewed. She said that the water was so bad that it was just like Niagara Falls. Not her exact words but she referred to N. Falls. Question, is there a Niagara Falls in Australia? Just wondering.
Ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 10:16 AM

I was in Brisbane in the early 70s. Weird to see it under water.
Today there is a heroic tale of a boy (young man, I think) of 13 who insisted rescuers take his 10 year old brother first from a car trapped in the floods. They were not able to get back in time for him or his mother.
RIP
M

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 12:19 PM

Beer, the last time I visited Oz I had the privilege of tracing the course of the mighty Amazon River through the Ural Mountains. I gazed in awe as its waters poured over Niagara Falls into the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon and so, by way of the Thames Estuary and the Mississippi Delta, to the wine-dark Mediterranean Sea. Truly, Australia has it all.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 03:04 PM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12186935

Brazil also needs a mention here.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 09:04 PM

I'm glad Bob the Postman does not deliver my mail ...

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: freda underhill
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 04:25 AM

The flood waters are receding in Queensland, there are still many people missing, everything is covered in mud and many will be without electricity for weeks.

In the meantime, there has been flooding in Glenorchy, Victoria, and several towns across Victoria's western and central districts are preparing for floods. More than 2,000 people have been evacuated from their homes after torrential rain swept through the state.

After years of drought, now floods, we'll all be ruined..

SAID HANRAHAN

"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, In accents most forlorn, Outside the church, ere Mass began, One frosty Sunday morn.
The congregation stood about, Coat-collars to the ears, And talked of stock, and crops, and drought, As it had done for years.

"It's lookin' crook," said Daniel Croke; "Bedad, it's cruke, me lad, For never since the banks went broke Has seasons been so bad."
"It's dry, all right," said young O'Neil, With which astute remark He squatted down upon his heel And chewed a piece of bark.

And so around the chorus ran "It's keepin' dry, no doubt." "We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "Before the year is out.
"The crops are done; ye'll have your work To save one bag of grain; From here way out to Back-o'-Bourke They're singin' out for rain.

"They're singin' out for rain," he said, "And all the tanks are dry." The congregation scratched its head, And gazed around the sky.
"There won't be grass, in any case, Enough to feed an ass; There's not a blade on Casey's place As I came down to Mass."

"If rain don't come this month," said Dan, And cleared his throat to speak-- "We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "If rain don't come this week."
A heavy silence seemed to steal On all at this remark; And each man squatted on his heel, And chewed a piece of bark.

"We want a inch of rain, we do," O'Neil observed at last; But Croke "maintained" we wanted two To put the danger past.
"If we don't get three inches, man, Or four to break this drought, We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "Before the year is out."

In God's good time down came the rain; And all the afternoon On iron roof and window-pane It drummed a homely tune.
And through the night it pattered still, And lightsome, gladsome elves On dripping spout and window-sill Kept talking to themselves.

It pelted, pelted all day long, A-singing at its work, Till every heart took up the song Way out to Back-o'Bourke.
And every creek a banker ran, And dams filled overtop; "We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "If this rain doesn't stop."

And stop it did, in God's good time; And spring came in to fold A mantle o'er the hills sublime Of green and pink and gold.
And days went by on dancing feet, With harvest-hopes immense, And laughing eyes beheld the wheat Nid-nodding o'er the fence.

And, oh, the smiles on every face, As happy lad and lass Through grass knee-deep on Casey's place Went riding down to Mass.
While round the church in clothes genteel Discoursed the men of mark, And each man squatted on his heel, And chewed his piece of bark.

"There'll be bush-fires for sure, me man, There will, without a doubt; We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan, "Before the year is out."

- John O'Brien (the pen name of Roman Catholic priest, Patrick Joseph Hartigan) first published in 1921 in the anthology Around the Boree Log and Other Verses.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 05:52 AM

Thanks for reminding me Freda - haven't heard Roger do it for quite a while... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Hrothgar
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 07:31 AM

The worst of the flooding seems to be over (but there are three months still to go before the end of the cyclone season). For a lot of people the harrowing part will be the cleaning up. Going over to help some people tomorrow.

I haven't been able to work for two days - the place where I work is perfectly safe, but it's just up the slope from a flooded area, and the electricity is turned off. Depending on who you are listening to at any time, there are up to 30,000 premises that have been flooded to some degree in Brisbane, and 100,000 where the power has been cut off.

There are quite a few people whose houses are safe, but they haven't been able to go anywhere from them because roads have been cut - that situation is also easing.

Next we are going to have a big brawl over why the local authorities gave planning permission for people to build in areas that were flooded in 1974 (nearly all the places in Brisbane that have been flooded were also flooded in 1974 or have been built in areas that were flooded in 1974). There will also be some discussion of the point that if you sell a car that has been immersed in floodwater, you are required to tell the buyer, but there is no similar provision in real estate contracts.

Try not to think about the people who were insured for everything but flood, and are now going to scream because the insurance companies won't pay their claims....

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Beer
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 07:46 AM

Good one Bob the Postman. I also hope he doesn't deliver mail.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 05:45 PM

Hrothgar has some good points. For those affected things are tragic. For those not personally affected in their houses, some will be indirectly affected too.

In areas outside Brisbane, there has been inundation of whole towns. In Toowoomba, very few houses were touched, and in Brisbane only about 1% or so of the city is affected, if you look at the published flood maps. I know Bundaberg, I used to live there, I rang friends and they laughed - only a few long term well known low lying suburbs were affected, most of the city was fine. This is not the "End of The World".

But there are whingers who are complaining they they are annoyed by all the trucks parking and the noisy helicopters, and the shops have no food, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: freda underhill
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 07:06 PM

Here is a link to a good article and images of how it is for those dealing with the aftermath.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 05:32 PM

Brisbane is almost entirely clear of the water - the after effects are going to take a while to handle. Many thousands turned out on the Saturday (yesterday) and have already turned up today for voluntary clean up crews. It may only be a small relative area, but the amount of mess is expected to take some weeks to deal with.

The debris in the parks alongside the torrent in Toowoomba has mostly been cleaned up - things like 2 inch GI pipe handrails, etc are still mangled.

Some towns in Qld and NSW are still waiting for the water to reach them - it can take weeks for the water to travel the length of rivers. There is only about 600 metres fall from some areas to the sea along the whole length (over 1000 km) of some rivers that stretch along the country here.

The Qld food markets used to be in Central Brisbane, they were moved to Rocklea and have been wiped out - buildings still standing. They were flooded in 1974 as well - they are talking about moving them to the North Coast - I believe that much of the Southern areas used for food production have tapered off anyway, and most come now from the north side anyway. Of course that is now an hour away by road transport from the city, scratching my head how sensible the idea is anyway.... The markets were moved in the 1960s to allw freeways and office buildings ti be built. they were getting too small for the whole city too, sure it would have been more sensible to keep them (like the Victoria Markets in Melbourne) and make more smaller ones around the suburbs.

Temporary tips have been placed in parks as staging points so that big trucks can take the compacted stuff away after neighborhoods drop the stuff close to them.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Tangledwood
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 05:44 PM

NearMap
is progressively adding high definition photomaps to their site. These are from aerial photos of the greater Brisbane area taken on Thursday soon after the flood peak.

Subject: RE: BS: Floods in Queensland, Australia, 2011
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 02:23 AM

Amateurs capture Brisbane flood devastation

Audience submitted flood photos

Brisbane flood volunteers turned away - there were too many!