G'day Ducatters :(
Most Australians would agree that our mates from the northern state of Queensland are.... well... there's no nice way to put it.... They're different. I think its the tropical climate that does it ;).
They're folk who dont do things by halves.
Including floods.
Right now an area larger than my home state of Victoria is inundated:
(http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/ausflood_01_03/a01_26457227.jpg)
(http://mediascrape.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/EMERALD-AUSTRALIA-FLOOD.jpg)
(http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2010/12/31/1225979/664170-queensland-floods.jpg)
(http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/ausflood_01_03/a20_26480251.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5332204099_3a15ed91e6_z.jpg)
(http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/ausflood_01_03/a16_26480455.jpg)
(http://media.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/images/2011/jan11/australia_flood_sm/australia_flood_01.jpg)
More pictures here >>
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html)
News stories here >>
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/flash-floods-on-the-sunshine-coast-as-rain-continues-in-queensland/story-e6frf7l6-1225984657199 (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/flash-floods-on-the-sunshine-coast-as-rain-continues-in-queensland/story-e6frf7l6-1225984657199)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/queensland-floods/two-women-feared-lost-in-toowoomba-flash-flood/story-fn7iwx3v-1225985117820# (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/queensland-floods/two-women-feared-lost-in-toowoomba-flash-flood/story-fn7iwx3v-1225985117820#)
Lives have already been lost and the full extent of the devastation is yet to be fully revealed.
If any amongst you would care to donate a dollar (alright better make it two, coz your money aint worth what it used to be ;)) then you can do so via the following link to the Queensland State Government's relief fund. I'm sure there are other avenues available also.
QLD Flood relief fund>>
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html (http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html)
Thanks.
That is a LOT of water where it doesn't belong...
floods creep me out...I prefer mountains
That picture of the stuffed teddy bear floating lifeless face-up.... I don't quite know what to say
Quote from: RAT900 on January 10, 2011, 04:29:59 AM
That is a LOT of water where it doesn't belong...
floods creep me out...I prefer mountains
That picture of the stuffed teddy bear floating lifeless face-up.... I don't quite know what to say
Teddy bears are always lifeless?
Wow...
I just moved out of Queensland about 6 months ago, I don't think I could have timed my move
any more perfectly. I remember driving through some of those towns while on the way down
to Tasmania. Scary to think how many of them are under many Meters of water now.
Mind you since these photos were taken, things have gotten worse, they had some huge Downpours upstream
from some areas last night, huge walls of Water swept through killing about 8 more.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/flash-flood-hits-toowoomba/story-fn7ik2te-1225985113281 (http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/flash-flood-hits-toowoomba/story-fn7ik2te-1225985113281)
The Wife and I were watching TV having dinner and they were broadcasting to people then, very blunt messages
"People of area ---- Get out now! There is a huge wall of water heading your way, you must leave now!"
When you hear it that bluntly, it's kind of Chilling.
Toowoomba Flood 2011.01.10 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYUpkPTcqPY#normal)
It just keeps getting worse down there. God help them.
mitt
Yes... rain for more days yet to come.
I hope everyone who is able to, has left. To the ones who cannot leave, EMS, 1st Responders, Military et al, stay safe while helping those who didn't have the ability to leave before.
This is a terrible irony as Au has been having drought issues for years now. It's a cruel joke they are being so troubled with floods.
Quote from: Rob s on January 10, 2011, 10:20:31 PM
Toowoomba Flood 2011.01.10 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYUpkPTcqPY#normal)
Waaah. What the hell are they still doing at work on a day like that? If I were watching that I'd be saying, "make the beast with two backs this," and getting my car outa there and my ass home or at least somewhere safer.
I PM'd Betty to see if he and his family were OK. Not sure if he is near the flooded areas. Don't remember seeing many posts from him lately. No reply as yet. Hope they're OK. [thumbsup]
Quote from: erkishhorde on January 11, 2011, 02:02:17 PM
Waaah. What the hell are they still doing at work on a day like that? If I were watching that I'd be saying, "make the beast with two backs this," and getting my car outa there and my ass home or at least somewhere safer.
That flash flood in Toowoomba. was caused buy what they are calling a super storm, came from no were and dumped a fenominal amount of water is less than an hour or so.
and caught every one out.
Somthing never seen before on that scale.
And Toowoomba being in a hilly area the water has just cascaded down the river, and a few small towns down below were basicly washed away people and all.
The water rose 60/90 feet in minutes. :o
10th Jan. 2011 - Storyful - Toowoomba Floods compilation Australia queensland oz grantham (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Do0LvsdXIU#normal)
Quote from: oldfastwin on January 11, 2011, 02:55:39 PM
I PM'd Betty to see if he and his family were OK. Not sure if he is near the flooded areas. Don't remember seeing many posts from him lately. No reply as yet. Hope they're OK. [thumbsup]
They would be OK. They are in NSW, not QLD.
the videos are terrible. I can't help but get sick when you see the floating cars and the brake lights or reverse lights are on - is someone still in it?
mitt
Mitt - Hopefully it's just water in the electrical system causing the lights!!!
My heard goes out to the people affected. That is worse flooding than we had in 2004 from two back to back hurricanes!
JM
I heard a comparison that put the scale of the flooding in perspective. The water is covering an area the size of France and Germany combined. :o
sac
I'm surprised at how little I've heard about such a massive problem. By what means are they trying to combat the situation?
Quote from: Monster Dave on January 12, 2011, 09:23:35 AM
I'm surprised at how little I've heard about such a massive problem. By what means are they trying to combat the situation?
Combat? There's no way to combat it... just GTF out of the way unfortunately. Pretty much getting the word out to folks as fast as possible as prevention is about all they can do - then come back to clean up later.
Quote from: Sad Panda on January 12, 2011, 09:48:11 AM
Combat? There's no way to combat it... just GTF out of the way unfortunately. Pretty much getting the word out to folks as fast as possible as prevention is about all they can do - then come back to clean up later.
Perhaps he meant things like, search and rescue, housing the displaced, maintaining sanitation, restoring utilities, providing medical care for the injured, building levees in case of more water . . . etc. How do you deal with these things over such a vast area? And have there been any Aid foundations set up to help any of these processes?
sac
^thanks. That's what I was asking.
From the OP
QLD Flood relief fund>>
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html (http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html)
I'm not sure what other aid groups are moving in - but the Aussies are pretty on the ball so they are responding already
Besides the search, rescue and recovery there's not much to be done. Levees aren't really going to work well. There's so much water that kit would just blast over or around something like that. Someone mentioned reports of water rising 60+ feet in one flash. Not much to be done when water will top a 5 story building.
It's just a shitty biblical scale draw they are getting right now. So they have to protect the folks they have and hope for the best on the materials
Bright sunshine here today, gonna be many days before the levels drop, the city of Brisbane is closed down, poor make the beast with two backsers down the hill from me are well under water.
There is also Flooding in NSW and Victoria, but it is getting very little coverage because the Queensland Situation is so much worse.
We even have some local flooding here in Tasmania!
And on top of the Flooding, Rescue services are having to Dodge Angry displaced Crocs and Snakes!
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2011/01/12/rockhampton-floods-crocodile-fire-rescue-berserker/ (http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2011/01/12/rockhampton-floods-crocodile-fire-rescue-berserker/)
Quote from: Sắc Dục on January 12, 2011, 09:18:08 AM
I heard a comparison that put the scale of the flooding in perspective. The water is covering an area the size of France and Germany combined. :o
sac
That is one description i have heard as well and pretty accurate :'(
As pictures shown in Unger first post.
These floods have been going on since Christmas were they usually measure the rain fall in inches/mm but now they measure in feet/meters.
And have been further north in the state, with ithink no loss of life.
The worst event happend on Monday at Toowoomba So called Super Storm caused what they are calling a inland Sunami, as shown in the youtube previous posts.
Unfortunately this caught people out so far 15 people dead and 61 missing. :'(
And being Summer here it is the School holidays and lots of children at home or in cars that got washed away :'(
The aftermath of that Sunami is now headed for Brisbane 3rd largest city in Australia 3million or so.Built around the Brisbane river now causing major flooding.
Quote from: Sad Panda on January 12, 2011, 10:08:37 AM
From the OP
QLD Flood relief fund>>
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html (http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html)
Aussies are pretty on the ball
Someone mentioned reports of water rising 60+ feet in one flash. Not much to be done when water will top a 5 story building.
It's just a shitty biblical scale draw they are getting right now. So they have to protect the folks they have and hope for the best on the materials
Theres something like 25 choppers in operation
The army with black hawks/ sea king choppers and c130 aircraft
Plus all the volunteer State emergency workers. police etc
60 feet is about right.
And yes Biblical scale :o
And these flooding events are nothing new in Australia 1974 was the last big flood in south east Queensland.
And flood mitigation measures have been put in place.
my friend in Australia said a 26 meter high wall of water took everything in its path. She also said an area the size of Texas and New Mexico is under water. My heart goes out to these folks. Its terrible.
BGB :'(
Now we've got this heading to Queensland
http://www.bom.gov.au/gms/IDE00035.latest.shtml (http://www.bom.gov.au/gms/IDE00035.latest.shtml)
Tropical Cyclone Yasi has been designated as a Category 5 Cyclone.
There is no Category 6.
This extreme weather event is due to hit North QLD coast between Carins and Townsville in around 9 hours from now. The warnings coming from official sources regarding this cyclone are more dire than any I have ever heard.
This from the weather bureau:
"SEVERE TC YASI IS A LARGE AND VERY POWERFUL TROPICAL CYCLONE AND POSES AN
EXTREMELY SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY WITHIN THE WARNING AREA,
ESPECIALLY BETWEEN CAIRNS AND TOWNSVILLE.
THIS IMPACT IS LIKELY TO BE MORE LIFE THREATENING THAN ANY EXPERIENCED DURING
RECENT GENERATIONS".
More here >> http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml (http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml)
With forcasts for 300km/h winds, as I write this from the safety of the other end of this continent, all I can do is wish that anybody who remains in the vicinity is able to stay safe.
I can't even comprehend that level of destruction
it is beyond any form of management
Holy crap! When does this stuff end? The icy cold weather we are having (and complaining about) are absolutely nothing compared to this! My life is not threatened here in Texas (only if I venture out in my car with the other idiots! [bang]) but the weather/floods in Aussie land sound horrible. Best to all our DMF friends in Australia and their friends and families. [thumbsup] God bless and be safe.
Puts my whingeing about the >40C/105F heatwave week where I am extremely trivial.
Stay safe northerners.
Quote from: ungeheuer on February 01, 2011, 05:56:43 PM
<snip>
With forcasts for 300km/h winds, as I write this from the safety of the other end of this continent, all I can do is wish that anybody who remains in the vicinity is able to stay safe.
As I read this from the other side of the world I wish the same.
And she's a big pregnant dog! :o
(http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad320/Super_TIB/IDE00035_201102020230.jpg)
Holy crap! That doesn't look good! :o [bang] :P
To give an idea of the size of the Cyclone
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/how-cyclone-yasi-compares-around-the-world/story-fn7ik2te-1225998762870 (http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/how-cyclone-yasi-compares-around-the-world/story-fn7ik2te-1225998762870)
It is a bloody Monster!
No words other than to say we I have no business complaining about a few days of inconvenient cold temps.
Keeping you in my thoughts.....
:-\
Wow, so pretty much everybody except the guys in Perth will feel it? That's... wow...
Part of the end of Days !
12/21/12
Dolph
Quote from: erkishhorde on February 01, 2011, 09:00:39 PM
Wow, so pretty much everybody except the guys in Perth will feel it?
No.
Between Cairns and Townsville I feel it will be inescapably devastating (although I very much hope to be wrong about that). But 1,600kms south in Queensland's capital city of Brisbane they're forecast to have "a few showers and light winds" tomorrow.
Its big, but its likely destruction will be "limited" to a path some hundreds of kilometres wide. Hundreds, but not thousands.
Think of it's destructive geographical area as something vaguely like this: New York City to Washington, DC and inland as far as Pittsburgh.
Hope that most can get out of harm's way. :P
Hold Fast Aussies.
Man, they are not catching any breaks. :-[
It appears the major Population Centers of Cairns and Townsville have dodged a very large Bullet, the same can not be said of Tully and Mission Beach, apparently they are badly Damaged/Destroyed.
Gotta love the Australian Spirit, one reporter is walking around using an iPhone and Skype to report and show the damage, he walked up to one house with half it's roof missing and water and debris everywhere, The home owner jokingly said "Scuse the Mess!"
Quote from: DoubleEagle on February 01, 2011, 10:00:08 PM
Part of the end of Days !
12/21/12
Dolph
It has been a wild couple of months for this planet. Makes you think alittle
Quote from: ungeheuer on February 02, 2011, 03:17:23 AM
No.
Between Cairns and Townsville I feel it will be inescapably devastating (although I very much hope to be wrong about that). But 1,600kms south in Queensland's capital city of Brisbane they're forecast to have "a few showers and light winds" tomorrow.
Its big, but its likely destruction will be "limited" to a path some hundreds of kilometres wide. Hundreds, but not thousands.
Think of it's destructive geographical area as something vaguely like this: New York City to Washington, DC and inland as far as Pittsburgh.
That is very true, considering there power, they affect a small amount of area in the overall scheme of things, mind you Cyclone Yasi is affecting
Weather in just about all areas of Australia, causing some rain and affecting some weather patterns in States as far away as Western Australia and Victoria, so it's a big Mother of a system!