Saturday, January 15, 2011

Queensland Floods

Hello Everyone!  I have been so touched by all the emails and messages from people checking on us as the floodwaters raged through our town.  On Tuesday, heavy rain lashed our region which resulted in creeks bursting their banks in Toowoomba and rushing through the Lockyer Valley.  From our area alone the death toll stands at 16 and there are still 56 people missing.  This does not include those that have been killed since Christmas in Central and Western Queensland.

On Wednesday the Brisbane River starting rising and inundating thousands of homes.  I live in the Western Suburbs in an area known as the Centenary Suburbs.  We are bounded by the Centenary Highway on one side, the Ipswich Motorway on another and the river on the other.  Those homes down near the river have all gone under.  Water has also come up through the creeks, inundating areas well away from the river.  We live high on a hill and we and our home are fine, but we know many who are not.

We lost power on Wednesday morning, and our home phone, so we took the only road out to head to friends who were unaffected (and taking the contents of the fridge/freezer since we couldn't buy any ice!).  We are so thankful to them for helping us! On Thursday we had a bit of a look around since nothing about our area was on the radio.  Here are some photos from our area....

I'm standing on an off ramp to the Centenary Highway, looking back towards the Centenary Bridge.  Just above the green signs you can see a small hump - that is the bridge.  By this stage, the water had gone down - it had been completely under.  Behind that you can see the road going up on the other side of the river to Kenmore.  The river went right down the highway for as far as we could see until the bend in the road.  This is our way into the city.  All this water is now gone.

This shipping container was found on the road opposite the park where my boys play cricket - a couple of blocks from our house.  It must have floated through the park which backs onto the golf course - which has a creek that meets up with the river.

Friends of ours were ONE HOUSE away from going under!  We walked around there on Thursday to see if they were OK.  This photo is taken from the house across the street - it overlooks the golf course I mentioned above.  All you can see is water and if you see the mark on the fence to the right, you can see how high the water actually got - half this house went under.

This is just a small, small part of Brisbane, so you can imagine what it's like all over the city.  As I write this, we have power but no phone or internet.  I have no idea when our internet will be back, so my posting may be a little sporadic.

I was VERY relieved to see that the major Queensland Highway was finally reopened through other flooded districts yesterday.  I have family in Maryborough and near Gladstone and both of these towns have been cut of north and south for about a week with their Supermarkets completely bare, things were starting to get a little stressful up there.  Remember, it is not just Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley that are affected, we are the latest ones, but so many towns have been affected over the last few weeks.

Thank you to everyone for checking on us - we are fine and so, so lucky compared to many.  If you want to help, please donate to the Premier's Appeal at www.qld.gov.au/floods or if you are overseas, consider donating to whatever appeals are going on in your country.

19 comments:

Pajalu said...

Kathy I am so glad that you & your loved ones & friends are all ok. I'm so thankful for where we live & I don't think I will ever take the sunshine for granted ever again xoxoxoxoxo

Carol Southern said...

I'm so pleased you have posted that you are OK. I've been checking a couple of times a day to see if you had posted. What a disaster this has been. I feel for all that have been affected.

Leigh said...

Thanks for the photos Kathy. The whole flood situation has been devastating. I feel for everyone affected.

Heather Rogers said...

I am so happy to hear your family and your home were saved. I didn't realize this is where you lived. I hope you are able to get back in soon. :)
Hugs~

A Consuming Passion said...

Heart breaking stuff for sure!!!! So good to hear you're safe and well!

Tracey Feeger said...

Oh my so glad to hear that you and your family are safe and well. It is an absolute tragedy isn't it...!!!! I feel the deepest sympathy for those who have lost loved ones and also their homes.
mwah
Trace

1CardCreator said...

Thanks for the update, so glad to hear you and your loved ones are fine. Will keep you all in my prayers. ~Diane

Marisa said...

Thanks for the update on your family, Kathy! SO glad to hear you are okay (((hugs))) Have seen clips on TV and the devastation in some areas is unreal... My heart breaks for those who have lost loved ones...a house and belongings can always be replaced. Hoping the waters subside soon so the clean up can begin and people can get their lives back in order. Stay safe!

Lovely Linda said...

Hello Kathy - it is great to see you back online and know that you are settling back in! What a travesty but I am so encouraged and moved to see the Aussie Spirit rise up and pull together helping each other and just being 'mates!' Some very deep friendships will form here and that is something good that will come out of it all! Everyone is still on our prayers and will remain so!! {{{hugs}}}

Mona Pendleton said...

Happy to hear you and your family are doing well Kathy! What terrible news! Will keep you all in my prayers.

Marg said...

Hi Kathy, so glad to hear that you and your loved ones are okay. It is a terrible tragedy that has occurred in your communities, and like many other Australians I will be keeping you in my thoughts as the clean up and rebuilding starts.

Jessie said...

Kathy, I'm so glad you and your family are ok. Sending hugs and prayers to you and your friends and neighbours. Continue to stay safe.

Leslie Miller said...

Goodness, I'm glad you and your family are safe!

velta said...

Oh my goodnes Kathy ~ I had no idea this was going on where you live...I am glad to know that you and yours are safe!! Hugs and prayers coming your way :)

Sammi said...

I am so glad to read that you and your family are safe!! It is so horrible and my heart and prayers are with everyone still dealing with the devastation these floods have caused!!
xxx

Francie G. said...

So thankful you and your family are safe, Kathy. Becca has been keeping us up to date over at ODBD. Take care. Prayers and hugs!

Amy Sheffer said...

I'm so thankful you, your family and your home are safe. Keeping you in my prayers!

Sharon said...

Thanks for the update Kathy. So relieved to hear all is okay with you :)

Sharon x

Stacy Morgan said...

Glad everyone is safe and okay! this is scary and glad your friends could help!

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