First the floods, now Cat5 Cyclone - Queensland, Australia.

[Slide Panda]

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.

[SacDuc]

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

[Monster Dave]

^thanks. That's what I was asking.

[Slide Panda]

From the OP

QLD Flood relief fund>>
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

[brimo]

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.

[CairnsDuc]

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/

[FIFO]

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.  


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.

From the OP

QLD Flood relief fund>>
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


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.

[badgalbetty]

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

[brimo]

Now we've got this heading to Queensland
http://www.bom.gov.au/gms/IDE00035.latest.shtml

[ungeheuer]

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

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.  

[GAAN]

I can't even comprehend that level of destruction

it is beyond any form of management

[fastwin]

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! ) but the weather/floods in Aussie land sound horrible. Best to all our DMF friends in Australia and their friends and families. God bless and be safe.

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

Puts my whingeing about the >40C/105F heatwave week where I am extremely trivial.

Stay safe northerners. 

[ducpainter]

<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.

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

And she's a big pregnant dog!