Anyone heard from the Toowoomba crew???

[TTIT]

Has anyone heard from Wendy or any of the Toowoomba crowd???? Some pretty serious water there yesterday - 8 lives lost and 72 missing.

[Ironwood]

I hope they are all OK down there, looked pretty bad.

My Mum and Dad are in Toowoombah at present, they went down to my Uncles funeral, which was on Friday. They are at my Cousins house, no power no water supply and no phone. The last I heard last night they are OK.

[Groggy]

Wendy is OK, floor in the shop is wet and some minor damage but she is safe and well.

[seanz]

Good to hear.


The flood pictures are quite shocking.

[munruben]

Wendy is OK, floor in the shop is wet and some minor damage but she is safe and well.That's good I was wondering how she was getting on with all the rain.

[RufflyRustic]

Hiya'll

I'm safe, sound and dry, thanks.:2tsup: the shed had it's second dunking yesterday but the only damage now will be to the legs of the workbench and cupboards, maybe some water marks and mould on the slabs and the bottom of the plywood walls are wet.

The cbd ( about 8 blocks worth) has been closed off while they work at clearing, cleaning and repairing. What caused it was that we had about 60 mm of rain in an hour up on the range and the Uni side of town (a total of 125mm in 24 hours) All that water ran off into the centre (lowest point of Toowoomba) and even though we had good flood mitigation infrastructrure in place, it just wasn't good enough for that amount of rain in such a short space of time and so we got a wall of water going through the town centre. The BOM said that a very tiny low appeared over the Toowoomba area and it was so small it didn't show up on any of the BOM's equipment, which is why it seemed to occur without warning.

As the rain fell over the range, all that water went down the range, down towards wivenhoe and somerset and so I guess that would be why it was so suddenly flooded in the lockyer....

There's very little traffic noise outside, glad to hear most people are staying at home rather than trying to go to work. I still can't ring out but at least I can receive calls and use the internet :)

We are doing ok, we shall see what happens this afternoon and if Toowoomba gets any of that storm going through lockyer at present :(

[RufflyRustic]

parts of brisbane are being told to evacuate RIGHT NOW - do not pack, just GO GO GO!!!!!
west end..... any other low lying areas.....


This would be due to the major storms/rainfall going through the Lockyer all this morning and that they opened all 5 floodgates at Wivenhoe as well.

[Mulgabill]

Absolutely terrible! All my thoughts are with the people of SE Queensland. I have just seen it live TV reports and they are indescribable.

[Waldo]

It's very hard. Made harder when you have family and friends in many of the areas hit.

Hang in there Wendy. :fingerscrossed:

[Allan at Wallan]

Thinking of you all during this stressful time. Have been
glued to the TV all day and can understand the trauma
associated with it all. Keep your chins up.:2tsup:

Allan

[artme]

Relieved to hear you are fine Wendy.:)

I grew up with almost yearly floods on the Nambucca. I rememer the 1956 floods, particularly as a young fellow my age fell off a local bridge and drowned. Iremember the record floods long the 'Bidgee in the 70s.

I have NEVER seen anything like this.:no::no:

Lets hope we have no more acts of idiocy from people wanting to " brave" the water.

We have put our names down to host people who may need that help. It's not much, but I guess every little bit helps.

Chin upand all the best for those afected. My thoughts are with you all.

[RufflyRustic]

thanks Guys.

I haven't heard from funky chicken or baldone. Andy_Mac is ok but wasn't able to get home last night (last I heard) due to a slip on mt kynoch.

More importantly, how are all our Brisbane members faring....:(

[Cliff Rogers]

Check out this video.

YouTube - Toowoomba Flood 2011.01.10

[Cliff Rogers]

... how are all our Brisbane members faring....:(
Won't know the outcome there for a day or 2.

Predicted River Heights/Flows:


Ipswich: Reach at least 22 metres (major) during Wednesday; further rises.

Moggill: Reach at least 22 metres (moderate) during Wednesday; further rises.

Jindalee: Reach at least 14.2 metres (moderate) late Wednesday; further rises.

Brisbane City: Reach about 3 metres (moderate) around 3am Wednesday.
Reach 4.5 metres (major) at 3pm Wednesday.
Exceed 1974 flood level (5.45 metres) on Thursday.


</pre>

[nosnow]

Hi
I am sitting on the balcony watching the news unable to do anything but wait to help anyone that needs it
Hoping that all forum members are coping

Cheers Rod

[I_wanna_Shed]

Watching the news footage is totally unbelievable. My wife's sets of grandparents are in Rockhampton and Toowoomba, and thankfully, not directly affected.

My thoughts to all those forumites who are impacted by this. As long as you come out safe, houses can be rebuilt.

Nathan.

[Claw Hama]

Stay safe all you Queenslanders and Northern NSW too. Glad you're ok Wendy:2tsup:
Tradgic time for everyone up that way.

[rhancock]

We're on the creek at Windsor, in inner north Brisbane, so we've evacuated this afternoon. I spent a hour or so choosing which tools to move up high and which to leave to take their chances.. :(

We'll be fine, now we're out, made sure the neighbours were ok, packed the kids up and locked the doors until the weekend. (actually, if it's safe, I'll go back tomorrow morning and move more stuff upstairs. The neighbour was here in 74 and said it came to her doorstep upstairs, and our house is a few inches higher, so hopefully the living areas upstairs will be ok, but after Toowoomba, anything is possible.

Don't think I'll get much work done on my hall table in the near future.

Good luck to those others out there, don't hang around, get out, there's plenty of evacuation centres, but if there's anything else I can do to help, don't be afraid to shout.

[funkychicken]

I'm fine, I was stuck at work for a while yesterday. I couldn't get past Gowrie Ck (where all the water on the news ends up) nor Meringandan Ck. As well as all of the West Creek crossings. Mt Kynoch was blocked by a landslide and it's the main route out of town. Chalk Drive was underwater, most of the footage you would have seen is of there and Dent St (along West Ck)

Meringandan is fine, we don't flood, the creek is overflowing but no one is in danger here.

I spent the day clearing out a house on Marcia st that flooded due to bad drainage and ripping up carpets at a church 100m from Chalk Drive. The water filled up a depressed parking bay, the weight broke the office windows and destroyed an interior wall as well as all the furniture

One of my mates near Gatton doesn't know where his brother is and another mate at Murphys Ck watched his parents get sucked into the creek, their whereabouts are unknown

[rhancock]

That's terrible. My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones, or don't know where they are.

[Paul39]

Every day my thoughts and prayers are with all affected by the flooding. .

Those in the woodturning forum are an extension of my family.

Asheville, North Carolina, USA

[Grumpy John]

The flooding that's inundated much of south and central Queensland, Australia, is the worst to hit the country in half a century. It was triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains just before Christmas and has been fed by much higher-than-normal rainfall since.
Here are some other facts and figures from the floods:
1,000,000: The area in square kilometres (approximately) affected by the flooding. That's larger than France and Germany combined and 10 per cent larger than British Columbia.
200,000: The number of people affected by the floods.
10 million: The number in tonnes of the country's wheat crop that has been downgraded to less than milling quality because of rain damage. That's equal to half the country's wheat crop.
343: The number of millimetres of rain that hit some areas of Queensland in a 24-hour period ending Jan. 10, 2011.
150: The number of millimetres of rain that fell in half an hour near the city of Toowoomba on Monday.
10: The number of people killed during a flash flood that followed that deluge of rainfall. A day later, 78 more people were still listed as missing.
22: The number of towns or cities that are either substantially flooded or isolated.
45: The percentage increase in the global grain prices because of the flood damage to Australia's wheat crop.
30: The percentage by which food prices in Australia could rise, according to investment bank JP Morgan.
20: The percentage of all crops in Queensland that have been wiped out by the floods.
$10 billion: Estimated damage caused by the floods — so far.



Read more: CBC News - World - The toll of Australia's floods (http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/01/11/f-australia-queensland-floods-by-the-numbers.html#ixzz1AlE3jyeU)

[artme]

That is terrible news about your friends Andrew!!

Glad you are OK.

[wheelinround]

Andrew sorry to hear of the friends hope they find them well and safe. Good to know your safe and active in helping in the recovery efforts well done :2tsup:

[Ironwood]

I just looked on the BOM radar, looks like no rain in SE Qld at the moment so thats good.

I hope for people in Brisbane and Ipswich that the water level doesnt reach the predicted heights.

Last Friday my Parents went to Toowoomba to attend my Uncles funeral, then they went to stay at my cousins house at Murphy's Creek, I cant contact them. My Mother did get a text message to my sister saying "all around them was wrecked, but they were all alive."
We cant contact them on their mobile phones or land line, so hoping all is still OK.

Edit- I just spoke with my Mother, she said their mobile phone all seemed to have flat batteries when they needed them, got them charged up at a neighbours house who has a generator. They are all well, they missed the force of the flood because their house was high enough above the creek.
She said its shocking talking to some of the locals there, of what they went through, and about the deaths, and people missing.

[Fuzzie]

It is all terrible. Even the people not directly affected are emotionally shocked by the impact. Brisbanites are apparently panic emptying supermarkets.

It must be worst for the people who are unaccounted for. One can only wonder what has happened to some and when and if they will ever be found.

I know they used to say that floods like '74 would never be seen again once the Wivenhoe was built. It is now in place and doing it's flood mitigation as designed, but it is just not enough. If you look at the stats the Wivenhoe is currently at close to 200% capacity. It is not in spillover yet, that dosen't happen until about 220%, it is just in controlled release. :o:o

One can't help but wonder at a time like now that if we had 6 to 10 years of drought in a row, what would it be like to have 6 years of this monsoonal weather in a row?

[Rifleman1776]

The American news media are finally starting to give serious coverage to the flooding situation. Toowoomba is mentioned frequently. And the videos demonstrate how people are suffering. One flood was described here as an "inland tsunami with a 26 foot wall of water". I can't imagine.
I do note that there has not been (as least not reported) an international response with aid for those affected. I suspect, since Australia is a civilized and industrial nation it will fend for itself quite well without outside support. But, I am sure, if help is needed the United States will be there.
The thoughts and prayers of myself and all Americans are with those affected by this disaster.

[artme]

Lots of offers of help from around the world Rifleman: our neighbours in Asia - China, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore. Offers already from theStates and from New Zealand.

So far only teams from NZ have been used to help as they were able to get themselves and their equipment here very Quickly.

Teams have arrived from other states of Australia and the armed forces are now heavily involved too.

In some ways the nature of our populatio spread is a fortunate thing. Such a vast area so sparsely populated means tht the risk of high loss of human life is small.Of course the flip side to this is that rescue efforts are also stretched because of the distances involved.

With 75% of an area of 770,310 square miles (or 1.863 million square kilometres) declared as a disaster area then you get some perspective of the enormity of this event. You can add to that tens of thousands of square kilometres in NSW also under flood.

It is truly mind boggling.

[RufflyRustic]

I went and did a grocery stockup this morning and am now in at work. I think i got what was close to the last bit of loo paper in the store. The state of the shelves is what I expected, tbh, panic buying of milk, bread, longlife milk, tinned & packet food, fresh meat, fruit and veges. it's really funny though that the supermarkets are getting so low and the smaller butchers, f&v stores are still well-stocked.

So glad to hear funky chicken is safe and Ironwood's family too. Will be keeping an eye and ear out for any other lockyer valley/ipswich/brisbane forumites too.

Bluegum is in ipswich, MajorPanic in Brisbane.

there are more, i can't think of them all just presently.

[springwater]

Anything I can do to help please let me know via PM. I know I'm along way away here in Victoria but I can organise things from here, through relatives up the east coast as far as Brisbane or business contacts. Plenty of shelter here for those in need, I'd be happy to arrange things, just ask we'll see what we can do.

[TTIT]

I went and did a grocery stockup this morning and am now in at work. I think i got what was close to the last bit of loo paper in the store. The state of the shelves is what I expected, tbh, panic buying of milk, bread, longlife milk, tinned & packet food, fresh meat, fruit and veges. it's really funny though that the supermarkets are getting so low and the smaller butchers, f&v stores are still well-stocked.
............I just don't get that panic buying bit :~. When the rain kicked in here just before xmas, the council decided to be prepared and started stacking some road barriers at each end of the main bridge - next thing some dick#&@d has started a rumour (apparently using Facebook) that the main bridge was going under that night and within 3 hours, Woolies shelves were empty!!! Stupid part is that even when we do get cutoff in every direction by road and rail, we still have air transport so nobody is going to starve. It was more than a week later that the bridge was finally closed, by which time the supermarkets all had full shelves again and nobody had to go without anything - but a hell of a lot of good food was thrown out by the idiots who still won't admit they couldn't have eaten it all anyway.
We now have road access north so food flown to Mackay can be trucked out here until the highway to Rockhampton or to the south opens again. Surprisingly, the butchers are still selling meat (but not Woolies and some people here don't seem to know what a butcher does!) and the bakeries are still making bread and nobody has starved yet - wouldn't mind some fresh milk and some fruit though :shrug:.
People are still piling their lives on the nature strips, midges still driving the last bit of sanity from many and there are some very weary souls wandering around but all-in-all, things are trying to get back to normal. Biggest concern here now is that with Brisbane's flooding getting all the attention, maybe Emerald will be forgotten again! The only thing I know for sure is that I wouldn't want to be in the crew that have to search the Lockyer valley for the poor souls lost in that flash flood.

[RufflyRustic]

Some photos of my shed.

[springwater]

TTIT, mass hysteria seems to be almost physical phenomenon, you should feel the MCG when it's packed out :oo: you could cut it with a knife, good to hear your relatively dry, I feel for the others who didn't come through so well :(

Seems to be all ship shape Wendy except the MDF? box may be in trouble, what are all the purple balls lying around on the grass :? It's comforting to see crowded sheds, makes me feel normal or something :- Yell out if I can do something to help anyone you know in need, you never know :cool:

[RufflyRustic]

Thanks Spring :)

The mdf box is chipboard and it is growing a lovelyshade of green. That's OK, I'll remove the wheels and turf it and build another rolling storage bin. Plenty of timber in my shed to use up :)

The purple balls are actually the fruit of the native tree in the neighbour's yard. I have no idea what the tree is, except that it is an Aussie native, flowers twice a year, the birds go mad over the nectar and when the flowers age, the birds get drunk on the nectar. it then produces the balls or nuts or seed balls which have a fleshy outer and seed pod inner. After a while the outer skin turns a bright purpley-blue. The fruit/seed pods are definitely not edible to bird, animal or human but the flowers' nectar is. The leaves are large, straight and narrow and turn red before they drop from the tree.

TTIT - I have to agree that panic buying to the extreme is ridiculous. :B but doing a bit of a stock up is prudent especially as the StepDaughter is back after being flood bound at a friend's for a few days and you know how much food teenagers eat :rolleyes:.:doh:

I, too, hope that everyone gets a fair go at services and support.

they have started the Lockyer Valley search :(

[I_wanna_Shed]

Ruffly,

Glad you are coming out relatively easy, and I'm hoping everyone on here is the same, and unfortunately if not, safe.

My wife's grandmother is in Toowoomba (the other side of the family is in Rocky - I think she brings people bad luck!). I've only been up to Toowoomba a few times so am not too familiar with it. What I can't find out is, where did the water come from? I did think that Toowoomba was on top of the Darling Downs, so that would make receiving massive amounts of run off hard? Was it just a freak downpour? But even that seems hard to imagine when watching the wild footage.

I love Toowoomba, seems a great place and I can imagine myself living there. I wish the town all the best for the cleanup and rebuild ahead.

All the best,
Nathan.

[AlexS]

Glad you're OK Wendy.
The purple fruit sounds like quandong. If your neighbour ever decides to chop it down, grab it, it's nice timber.

Anyone in Toowoomba heard anything of the DNR hydrographers there? I think they would have been working further north until this started, but don't know if they could get back. They'd be out working if they could. Hope they're all OK, some of them are my students.

[Bruceo]

Highfields has been pretty good but still some awesome rain. My shed got a bit wet,but only sawdust that I should have cleaned out anyway. My dughter's car was swept away by the torrent that went down East Creek, lucky she wasn't in it. We're well and truly isolated at the moment, cant go any direction for flooded creeks. We'll just have to sit it out. Blue sky today.

cheers,Bruce.

[rhancock]

We had about 500mm of water through the bottom of the house today, including the workshop, which wouldn't have been a problem - normally I keep everything above waist level anyway for just this eventuality. Unfortunately they're saying we're going to get another metre tomorrow.

We're all safe, and the important stuff is upstairs and should be dry, although I left all the qld maple downstairs, so I'll have to dry that afterwards. Maybe it won't get wet.

Considering the stories I'm hearing, I think we are pretty lucky.

Here's some photos of the upstairs of our house and the floodwaters:

[RufflyRustic]

I...... Biggest concern here now is that with Brisbane's flooding getting all the attention, maybe Emerald will be forgotten again! ....

I think i kinda get what you mean, TTIT. The news today was all about Ipswich and Brisbane, but what about Toowoomba, what's happening with the cleanup and the roads, what smaller roads are open where, how bad is the damage, do they have any guesstimate for fixing so we can get a bit of essential traffic flowing .....


...What I can't find out is, where did the water come from? I did think that Toowoomba was on top of the Darling Downs, so that would make receiving massive amounts of run off hard? Was it just a freak downpour? But even that seems hard to imagine when watching the wild footage.


Nathan, I too, had that exact question so listened closely whenever the BOM guys were on TV. Toowoomba is right on the edge of the range. you come up the range and immediately go down the hill to the centre of town, where the two creeks run through, and then up the hill to the other ridge line that I just so happen to live on, and then down again out to the Darling Downs.

On Monday, the storm cell developed very quickly, more quickly than the BOM could see and track, so that's why we had no warning. The ground here is completely saturated, especially after Boxing Day and last Thursday, so when this cell hit us and all that rain fell in one to two hours, it had nowhere to go. It rained all over Toowoomba, especially the range and Uni areas and all that rain behaved as it normally does, down the hill and straight into the two creeks through the centre.:cool::(


Glad you're OK Wendy.
The purple fruit sounds like quandong. If your neighbour ever decides to chop it down, grab it, it's nice timber.

Anyone in Toowoomba heard anything of the DNR hydrographers there? I think they would have been working further north until this started, but don't know if they could get back. They'd be out working if they could. Hope they're all OK, some of them are my students.

Ah Ha, Quandong. Thanks Alex :2tsup: hmm, who says it will be the neighbour chopping it down:U:D

I haven't specifically heard anything Alex, but if I hear anything, I'll let you know.

The uni has put a call out for volunteers from the staff to help with the cleanup. I'll be going as soon as my boss gives me the go-ahead. it's the least I can do, tbh.


So glad to hear of the reports of forumites checking in. It's a big relief.

[dai sensei]

Hope all goes Ok for you Richard, the river hasn't peaked yet in Bris, but looks like you got most things up.

My heart goes out to those in the Lockyer Valley, and the others that have lost love-ones.

[funkychicken]

Front page of the newspaper today, my mates parents are among the first identified dead

The "Inland Tsunami" hit Toowoomba. The water came from the sky, the catchment area is only the eastern to western peaks of the town, the problem was the intensity of the rain. All the rain that hit the eastern side of the range flowed through the Lockyer which is partly why the flooding was so much worse down there

All the supermarkets are just about empty and all the servos are out of or about to run out of fuel

I spent half the day clearing out a furniture store, the water level was at my shoulder and we filled numerous skips with damaged couches

[John Saxton]

I'm glad to hear that our Qld members so far mentioned are OK , I feel for those that have lost family & friends as well as all they've worked for over time.

A tragedy like this comes along to remind us how frail we are when it comes to the forces of nature however mother nature has yet reconcile with the spirit of mankind and how we can bond especially in times of trauma such as we have now.

All the best to our Qld NSW members in their time of need.

Cheers:)

[Rifleman1776]

Lots of offers of help from around the world Rifleman: our neighbours in Asia - China, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore. Offers already from theStates and from New Zealand.

So far only teams from NZ have been used to help as they were able to get themselves and their equipment here very Quickly.

Teams have arrived from other states of Australia and the armed forces are now heavily involved too.

In some ways the nature of our populatio spread is a fortunate thing. Such a vast area so sparsely populated means tht the risk of high loss of human life is small.Of course the flip side to this is that rescue efforts are also stretched because of the distances involved.

With 75% of an area of 770,310 square miles (or 1.863 million square kilometres) declared as a disaster area then you get some perspective of the enormity of this event. You can add to that tens of thousands of square kilometres in NSW also under flood.

It is truly mind boggling.


Thanks for that perspective. Yes, truly mind boggling. Prayers for all continue.

[jmk89]

Front page of the newspaper today, my mates parents are among the first identified dead

The "Inland Tsunami" hit Toowoomba. The water came from the sky, the catchment area is only the eastern to western peaks of the town, the problem was the intensity of the rain. All the rain that hit the eastern side of the range flowed through the Lockyer which is partly why the flooding was so much worse down there

All the supermarkets are just about empty and all the servos are out of or about to run out of fuel

I spent half the day clearing out a furniture store, the water level was at my shoulder and we filled numerous skips with damaged couches

According to this (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/beautiful-one-day-a-terrible-flood-plain-the-next/story-e6frg6zo-1225985855443), the main problem was a simple one of planners and landscapers not listening to the engineers as to how much capacity was needed when they decided to use the town's creeks to be part of a park project:(

[AlexS]

FC, very sorry to hear about your mate's parents. Hope you can help him out in times to come. Our thoughts are with all involved.

[artme]

That is really sad news Andrew. Please pass my regards on to your friend.

As for the news coverage Vern and Wendy, I think that the switch to Brisswich is understandable. Capital city, major population area in the state.

It doesn't mean the other places are forgotten. Don't forget there is task force set up to deal with the clean-up and reconstruction and it started its work some time before Brisswich was hit. Of course its task is now much larger and one would hope that appropriate resources are not only increaased, but put to best use for all areas.


I am not a fan of Anna Bligh or this state government BUT i have to say that I am mightely impressed with the way they have handled the situation.

I think one lesson to be learned is that the police need better legislative powers to be able to force or direct stubborn people to evacuate and to p34s of rubber neckers who simply get in the way.

[Cliff Rogers]

.

The purple balls are actually the fruit of the native tree in the neighbour's yard. I have no idea what the tree is, except that it is an Aussie native, flowers twice a year, the birds go mad over the nectar and when the flowers age, the birds get drunk on the nectar. it then produces the balls or nuts or seed balls which have a fleshy outer and seed pod inner. After a while the outer skin turns a bright purpley-blue. The fruit/seed pods are definitely not edible to bird, animal or human but the flowers' nectar is. The leaves are large, straight and narrow and turn red before they drop from the tree.
.

Elaeocarpus angustifolius
Other Botanical Names: Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Elaeocarpus grandis, Elaeocarpus sphaericus, Ganitrus sphaerica

Common Names: Blue Quandong, Blue Marble Tree, Silver Quandong, Blue Fig, New Guinea Quandong

The fruit is blue, the timber is silver so if you are looking for it as timber, ask for Silver Quandong.

[RufflyRustic]

thanks Cliff

I'm not a fan of Anna Bligh, but kudos to her for being there and in full view with very regular updates. She's coming across as human, caring and doing her bit:2tsup:

My condolences FC.

[AlexS]

Here's a link to a silver quandong box. (http://web.mac.com/alexspringall/Alex_Springall_Fine_Woodwork/Gallery/Pages/Boxes.html#37) As you can see, it's a nice timber.

[Bob38S]

Glad to hear most of the forumites are OK.

[RufflyRustic]

Alex, I just so happened to be talking with a Twmba surveyor this evening and he mentioned one of his friends talking about rivers and how the surveyor has been asking his friend lots of river-related questions.

:question:

"No way," I thought, "but it's worth a try."

"Your friend, by any chance is he in a team of Hydrographers that went north and west recently?"

Surveyor replied, "Yes, they are all back now but they will be going out and around again soon."

So Alex, The Hydrographers are back safely. They are astounded by what they have seen but they will be going out again around the region soon, if they haven't already.

it's a small, small world sometimes
:U:2tsup:

[Dengue]

My daughter's partner who has been stranded in Toowoomba all week made it home to Ipswich today. It is normally a 1 hour drive east down the range and along the Warrego Hway, but he had to go SW towards Warwick on the Cunningham Hway, then cut across country south down to Boonah and back along the Boonah - Brisbane road to Ipswich. Took him 3 hours.

His biggest problem, besides the potholes and washaways, was ratbag drivers speeding along, not driving to the conditions, and making it hard for everyone

[mic-d]

The power came back on here some time during the night. Our house was high and dry by about 3m at the peak so all is good here. The pony club went under completely so horses have been evacuated to high ground and for the last few days I've been ferrying supplies in on foot to those camped out since there is no vehicle access atm. We are trying to find nearby land for suitable for them as it will be weeks before they can go back to their paddocks. Catching up on news on TV and on here its just terrible, so much saddness, but on the ground there is such a feeling of mateship - the community has really come together.

Cheers
Michael

[AlexS]

Thanks, Wendy, glad they're OK. They will be busy for a while.
At least the students wont be able to say they haven't got any material for their major project.:roll:

[Bob38S]

After all of the work and clean up is done - I fear that there will be many in for a nasty surprise when they get there next water bill. I have not heard any mention of a suspension of billing or allowance of water for clean up - I would be really pleased if someone could tell me I'm wrong.

[Christopha]

I think that one of the most horrible stories I have heard was when a mate told me yesterday that as a result of the floods his Mother-in-law wants to leave Ipswich and move in with him and his wife!! Horror!!!!

[TTIT]

After all of the work and clean up is done - I fear that there will be many in for a nasty surprise when they get there next water bill. I have not heard any mention of a suspension of billing or allowance of water for clean up - I would be really pleased if someone could tell me I'm wrong.Rockhampton mayor is already talking about a rebate - hopefully they'll do the same thing here :shrug:

[artme]

Campbell Newman has promised a rebate!:)

[q9]

In case you missed me...I'm still here.

I've been fairly busy the last few days helping out on the phones (I work for TRC) as there has been a high volume of calls and we've been manning the phones for extended hours during the week. Things are starting to settle down, and roads are being reopened, so it is looking good for supplies to get to us from down south, while Brisbane recovers.

Opening the Range was a high priority, and there is still limited access and water tankers are given highest priority in both directions as there is basically no or severely limited water infrastructure in much of LVC.

Unfortunately we get an awful lot of calls concerning areas in Lockyer, and there's not much we can do except refer them on to LVC as we aren't provided with or keeping up to date info on their situation.

Our crews have been working long, hard shifts to ensure as many roads are trafficable as possible, and thankfully nearly all our major infrastructure has survived in tact (water, sewerage, electricity).

In the scheme of things, we got off pretty lightly...

[Cliff Rogers]

.... (I work for TRC) ......
Good on ya, no body else does. :D

Only joking... I live on the tablelands, we call our council TRC as well.

You should update your profile to say where in Oz you really are.

[q9]

Only joking... I live on the tablelands, we call our council TRC as well.



and don't we know it! Webmaster rues the day he didn't register trc.qld.gov.au as well...



You should update your profile to say where in Oz you really are.

It's been a moving target. Much of last year we were in Teneriffe. Good thing we moved back...

[RufflyRustic]

Hiya q9

Good hear what ever info you can provide. my hubby finally got called out yesterday to cart dirt, rocks and water about the place. He's rapt, tired, but happy :)

I'm just waiting here to see if I get called out today again myself. My work put out a call for cleanup volunteers and got inundated :2tsup:


So glad to read more reports of forumites checking in and being safe. :2tsup:

[q9]

Today was quieter, but still busy, though I was in the DCC and we were handling all calls. As far as Toowoomba is concerned, we're basically on track for a modified normality. Biggest problem for households seems to be back flow from sewerage, which is due to people plumbing their stormwater run-off (ie their guttering) into the sewerage system. Works OK unless you are the lowest house on the pipe run, and burst water mains due to land movement.

I wont bother with the silly calls tonight, I'd rather pass on a call I got fairly early in my shift. A woman rang offering 50-60 men + heavy earthmoving equipment + their own catering supplies for an extended period, but only if they could help some of the smaller towns. Brisbane and Toowoomba can look after themselves she said, and really, she's right. I was exceedingly pleased to be able to refuse her offer on behalf of Council and give her LVC's DCC number instead.

Maybe the week is wearing on me, but I thought that was pretty awesome.

[RufflyRustic]

...
I wont bother with the silly calls tonight, I'd rather pass on a call I got fairly early in my shift. A woman rang offering 50-60 men + heavy earthmoving equipment + their own catering supplies for an extended period, but only if they could help some of the smaller towns. Brisbane and Toowoomba can look after themselves she said, and really, she's right. I was exceedingly pleased to be able to refuse her offer on behalf of Council and give her LVC's DCC number instead.

Maybe the week is wearing on me, but I thought that was pretty awesome.


Oh, yes, that is TOTALLY awesome and another group of people go onto my list of worthy to be mentioned.:2tsup::2tsup:

[tea lady]

Front page of the newspaper today, my mates parents are among the first identified dead

So sad to hear Funky! :C


Thanks, Wendy, glad they're OK. They will be busy for a while.
At least the students wont be able to say they haven't got any material for their major project.:roll::doh: I guess being Hydrographers in a drought seems a bit redundant! :rolleyes:

My thoughts are with everyone up there!

[AlexS]

:doh: I guess being Hydrographers in a drought seems a bit redundant! :rolleyes:

In drought we're trying to find & measure any little drop of water.
In floods, we're trying to measure them.
In medium flows, we take it easy.

Water comes in drips and drops
And sometimes in a bucket
But when it's really p!ssing down
Hydrographers say
Aahrgh,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
we'd better go and measure it.

[RufflyRustic]

:rotfl: :2tsup::2tsup:

[Dengue]

One thing I can't understand is that the whole of the Grantham area has been declared a crime scene by the police, and no one is allowed back to their houses. Imagine the stink of the caked mud that should have been washed out a week a go. They will never get that mud out now.

Why couldn't some houses have been declared safe after the police and army searched it, and the occupants allowed back to clean up?

[fubar]

we had similar isssues down here after bushfires as marysville was declared crime scene and was weeks before limited access was allowed

[funkychicken]

A body was found in one of the houses in Grantham on the third search of the building. The authorities have to be completely sure before they start letting people in, they don't want already shocked and hurting survivors finding their relatives dead amongst debris
Amongst other reasons

Whinging and nitpicking won't help the situation

[rsser]

Post and clean up pics about Richard Vaughan is here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f68/onya-aussies-onya-queenslanders-130310/)

Re Grantham and crime scene: it may well be one. Good way to disguise a murder or kidnap.