Australia - Brisbane's big wet

[Crime and punishment]

The torrential rains in SE Qld have caused a huge outage of telecommunications (Telstra) to central and North Qld. We have had no Internet for about 6hrs now in Townsville where it has been incredibly hot 40 degrees with 70% humidity today. We have a country of extremes! It's still around 30 degrees and terribly humid at midnight. There is no way to contact 000 for any emergencies either. Quite bad - I hope no loss of life happens because of this. Good luck to all in Brisbane and Ipswich bracing for floods.

 

[Nova]

I'm on a hill so water is running down. Our house is on poles so about 10 feet off the ground so we should be ok.

I survived all the Christchurch Earthquakes so I'm very prepared.

kiwi, I've been asking about houses on poles ever since I saw the "Heslop house" in Muriel's Wedding (my favorite film, BTW). And nobody has been able to answer me.

Is your house elevated to save it from flooding, wildlife, what?

 

[fruity]

I hope you don't mind me jumping in, but houses on poles in Queensland are usually called "Queenslanders" and it's to cool the house down. When I was a kid I lived in a town with a huge river that used to flood regularly, so any houses nearby were on poles for flood reasons. But if you see a house on poles in a movie in Queensland it's usually so the breeze can flow under the house. In Muriel's Wedding, Porpoise Spit was filmed in Coolangatta.

There's more information here at the wiki link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queenslander_(architecture)

 

[marlywings]

Still gale force winds & rain in Brisbane. Absolute thousands without power all along the south east coast of Qld, electricity co is having problems coping with it as they can't put their guys up in cranes to re-connect the fallen power lines.

Looking very grim with the serious flooding coming through today.

The winds are expected to drop around midday today....thank goodness for that!!!

 

[marlywings]

Floodwaters are threatening even more communities in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales after days of wild weather.

The region is struggling with an unfolding weather disaster as flood waters force more evacuations and wild winds rip off roofs and cut power and phone lines.

The system is expected to continue contracting into northern NSW throughout the course of today, but rivers throughout the region are still rising.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/

 

[marlywings]

Live coverage: Queensland flood crisis

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-28/qld-flooding-alert-moves-south/4486666

 

[Cyansea]

Authorities are urging residents in parts of the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane to evacuate due to rapidly rising floodwaters. Over 200,000 people in south-east Queensland are currently without power. In northern NSW, an estimated 1,900 people have been left isolated by flooding. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says the flooding will not be as severe as in 2011, but is urging people at risk in Brisbane and Ipswich to take action. Floodwaters could inundate up to 3,600 homes and 1,250 businesses in Brisbane. Bremer River at Ipswich to peak at 15m about midnight on Monday, and again late Tuesday. Brisbane River to peak at 2.6m about noon on Tuesday, and again at noon on Wednesday. are available from the Brisbane City Council website. The council's Facebook page has info on . is available on the council's website.
bbm some information missing but should be on Brisbane City Council Facebook.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/article/15964904/live-coverage-queensland-flood-crisis/

http://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneCityCouncil

So glad little toddler was winched to safety, thank you rescuers! :clap:
Stay Safe everyone. xx

 

[Cyansea]

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Bundaberg’s north, with authorities saying people could die if they stay.

The Burnett River continues to head towards an unprecedented peak. The river is 9.1m and rapidly rising.

It’s expected to reach at least 9.5 metres on Monday, and possibly as high as 10 metres, which is well beyond the levels recorded in 2010-11 and in 1942, when the current record was set.

There have been dramatic helicopter rescues of people in the north Bundaberg area during the day.

Councillor Tony Riccardi said all residents in that area, including Belmont Park and One Mile Road, are now subject to a mandatory evacuation order.

http://afr.com/p/national/mandatory_evacuations_in_qld_as_Ec7eDk9ZABHoKZ5QNN8VvN

 

[marlywings]

2:31PM: Government expecting major flood damage in Bundaberg with the Burnett River running at 40 knots - so fast that rescue by boat will be very difficult and the force of the water is such that houses could be completely washed away.

All emergency personnel are descending on Bundaberg as an unexpected wall of water descends on the town.

Additional swiftwater rescue and emergency choppers have been despatched to the city to help evacuate residents from areas at risk.

Mr Newman said the situation in the city was extremely serious because of a record flood.

He said the velocity of the water flowing through north Bundaberg meant houses could be swept from their stumps.

"Some estimates have put it at 40 knots," he said.

"The velocity of the water, and the rises in the water levels, means that literally houses, particularly in north Bundaberg, and maybe other locations, could be swept away

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...es-worse-to-come/story-e6freoof-1226563096895

 

[marlywings]

Sounding terrible for the poor folks up in Bundy right now. In Brisbane it's now blue sky & sunshine but still gusts of wind. Crazyyyy country!!

The whole system which started way up top of Australia around a week ago is now bearing down on Sydney. Incredible system that's for sure.

 

[Cyansea]

Sydneysiders have been warned to prepare for torrential rain and destructive winds expected to hit the city on Monday night as ex-tropical cyclone Oswald slowly moves down the NSW coast after battering Queensland and northern NSW.

Sydney rainfall totals could hit 150 millimetres
Wind speeds in Sydney could reach 100km/h
Brisbane braces for flooding
Flights cancelled at Sydney Airport
Traffic jams on F3. Drivers urged to avoid travel

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/w...-cyclone-moves-down-coast-20130128-2dftd.html

 

[Ippygal]

How's all my fellow Queenslanders faring? I'm in Ipswich , once again feeling grateful I bought a Queenslander off the ground and high on a hill! Many others not so lucky, again

 

[summer_breeze]

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/world-vide...an-town-coated-in-freak-foam-after-storm.html

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:52 | 1min:4sec

<snipped>

In what appears at first glance a scene from a Hollywood disaster movie, whole swathes of the town can be seen blanketed in fluffy foam over ten feet tall. But locals were quick to see the bright side of the weather, taking pictures and frolicking in the foam.

Video at link

 

[summer_breeze]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/world/8234469/Queensland-floods-claim-young-victim

MARISSA CALLIGEROS AND PETER HANNAM
Last updated 07:15 29/01/2013

A three-year-old boy has become the fourth and youngest victim of Queensland's flood crisis, as the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Oswald advanced across the state's border leaving rising rivers in its wake

Video at link

 

[summer_breeze]

http://www.hobsonsbayweekly.com.au/...two-missing-as-heavy-rain-ravages-coast/?cs=7

By Ilya Gridneff Jan. 29, 2013, 3 a.m.

A WEEK after some of the hottest temperatures on record, three Queenslanders are dead and two men remain missing as winds and torrential rain lash the east coast and flooding wreaks havoc in parts of northern NSW.

 

[summer_breeze]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-...-for-body-search/story-fn7iwx3v-1226564584394

ROSANNE BARRETT From: The Australian January 30, 2013 12:00AM

TEAMS trained to find earthquake victims are waiting to sweep flood-bound homes in Bundaberg amid fears that elderly or disabled people could be trapped.

<snipped>

About 200 people were airlifted yesterday out of Bundaberg North, the area under most threat, as the dramatic evacuation by a hurriedly assembled fleet of helicopters entered its second day, led by four army Black Hawks.

 

[kiwijayne]

Well after 3 nights without power it has just come back on. So excited to have a hot shower in the morning.

 

[kiwijayne]

kiwi, I've been asking about houses on poles ever since I saw the "Heslop house" in Muriel's Wedding (my favorite film, BTW). And nobody has been able to answer me.

Is your house elevated to save it from flooding, wildlife, what?

I would say flooding it certainly saved us from that.

Also one of my favourite films.

 

[Ausgirl]

Best wishes for the safety of our members and all peoples Up North.

I am sure many families have lost everything. I'll be donating to the relief funds.

 

[marlywings]

QUEENSLAND is a state tormented by water. In Bundaberg and other towns, thousands of people remain homeless. In Brisbane, residents face running out of water because of flood-related problems at the city's largest treatment plant.




1.05pm: WATER tankers have been brought in to three southside Brisbane hospitals to guard against fire if local water supplies break down.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...taps-may-run-dry/story-e6freoof-1226564644618