And the Rains Came Tumbling Down...
Dear Ricochet readers
As you say a prayer for the families of the Tuscon victims, please also spare a thought for the many in my state (Queensland) here in Australia who have been evacuated due to flooding. Over 6500 homes in the Brisbane area are expected to be affected in the next 24 hours.
BRISBANE'S Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is predicting 6500 properties will be flooded across the city. Cr Newman says the next few days will see a large-scale disaster unfolding across the city, ahead of an expected peak in the Brisbane River on Thursday. Office workers are streaming out of Brisbane's CBD as the Brisbane River breaks its banks with floods greater than 1974 expected to hit the southeast. Flood waters are heading towards Brisbane, with residents warned to prepare for a major flood as office workers and shoppers leave the CBD.
In the city of Toowoomba, flash flooding turned the city's roads into an inland tsunami.
FOUR people are dead and up to 6 others are missing as an extraordinary drama unfolds in Toowoomba where streets have become raging torrents. Flash flooding has sent up to two metres of water coursing down streets in the city, west of Brisbane, with at least nine swiftwater rescues under way.
Ipswich:
UP to a third of Ipswich, west of Brisbane, will go under when the Bremer River reaches a record peak tomorrow, Mayor Paul Pisasale says. Hundreds of Ipswich residents are pouring into Ipswich's evacuation centre as floodwaters from the Bremer River rapidly rise.
It is predicted to reach 22m tomorrow, more than2m higher than the peak in 1974.
It was rising by about a metre an hour this afternoon, and was at 12.25m at 4pm (AEST).
Mr Pisasale said the rapid rise has taken locals by surprise.
"Yesterday we were looking at 14.5m and today we were shocked at 18 and 19, they have just recalculated that," Mr Pisasale told Network Nine.
"They are now telling us 22m, which is two metres higher than what happened to us in 1974.''
He said hundreds of streets would be affected and residents were being urged to evacuate.
The latest:
THE death toll from the Queensland floods has risen to 10 with the death of a four-year-old boy who fell out of a boat.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the death toll had climbed from nine to 10, after the death of the four-year-old boy swept away in floodwaters at Marburg, west of Ipswich.
"The best advice we have at this stage is that this boy's life was lost during an attempt to rescue him and his family," Ms Bligh said.
Update: 8:12am, 12 Jan (Our time)
90 people are missing. Low-lying areas of Brisbane CBD have seen power cuts.
Thank you all for your interest and your kind words. Our suburb is situated on higher ground and we are unlikely to see any of the flooding in our area now that the rain has eased.
It's glorious... to see sunlight breakthrough this morning.
Residents of northern New South Wales have also been evacuated as the Clarence River rises.
The river has already reached the 7.3 metre peak which had been expected at 9:00pm (AEDT), and is now heading for a 7.6 metre peak.
The State Member, Steve Cansdell, says the city of Grafton should be saved by its levee of 8.2 metres.
Update: 10:36 (AEST) 12 January 2010
By now, many of you will be following this story on your television sets. Many thanks to Ricochet editors for putting this post on the Main Feed.
This gallery shows the extent of the devastation in Brisbane. We haven't attempted to leave home beyond 3 km. Authorities have advised us to remain at home and refrain from taking the car out unnecessarily as SES teams travel to mount their rescue efforts throughout Southeast Qld. Although we saw sunny, warm weather today, rise in the Brisbane River is set to peak at 5.2m between 3 - 4 am tomorrow morning which is a downward revision of the previous projection of 5.5m.
The Southeast Qld death toll currently stands at 13, with the discovery of a body of man in his 50s. The total number missing has been revised down to 43.
Authorities estimate that 40 000 properties in more than 50 suburbs will be affected by the rise in the river.
Up to 1000 homes in Ipswich have gone under and 7500 have been affected by the water.
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Comments :
Re: And the Rains Came Tumbling Down...
This is tragic and terrible. My heart goes out to the victims. A four-year-old boy. Why?
May '10
Re: And the Rains Came Tumbling Down...
As of a few days ago, an area equal to the size of Germany and France combined, is underwater, and I expect this has increased.
Rain has been falling steadily for almost a month in Queensland, parts of New South Wales, and Western Australia due to the monsoonal rains. Flash flooding has caused rivers to rise several metres within minutes, including a 2m tide of water over major roads trapping people in their houses.
The next few days of flood-waters are about to meet a King tide in Brisbane and elsewhere with frightening consequences. It is to be hoped that no cyclones are going to form before the current disaster is brought under control
Lilium I pray your family are safe over the next few days. My cousin in NSW is currently isolated on an island in a river (its a large island). I expect they will be fine, with their generator, tank water and supplies, (although their neighbours may be washed out). She tells me it is eerily quiet as everyone battens down in preparation, all they hear is the falling rain.
May '10
Re: And the Rains Came Tumbling Down...
I have visited Australia seven or eight times and while in Queensland I noticed that many vehicles had "snorkels" attached. Now I know why.
Take care and watch out for snakes too.
Re: And the Rains Came Tumbling Down...
It's so frightening. I hope you and yours stay safe and that the danger passes for all of Queensland soon.
Aug '10
Re: And the Rains Came Tumbling Down...
Our prayers are with you all, Lilium.
I don't know if this will help anyone, but David Bentley Hart, an outstanding Orthodox theologian (though, as theologians tend to be, weak on economics), has written a book called The Doors of the Sea: Where Was God in the Tsunami? addressing questions like these. I haven't read it yet (just ordered it in fact) but anything by Hart is worth reading, I think.
Nov '10
Re: And the Rains Came Tumbling Down...
Our sympathies and prayers are with you. Please do stay safe.
Dec '10
Re: And the Rains Came Tumbling Down...
How horrible! I pray for the safety of all affected.