Saturday 15 January 2011

Brisbane flooding and bits and pieces...PUBLICATION PARTY CONTINUES TO RAGE IN THE FOLLOWING POST! Don't miss author Christine Bell...

Here is an update on the Brisbane flood situation. My sympathies also go out to the poor people in Brazil who are facing a similar disaster but I fear will not have the resources to cope as well as we have. Kudos to our brave citizens who plucked people from floodwaters, volunteers who're helping everywhere, Brisbane City Council, State Government, police and Federal Government. Our world has run amok and we little humans are powerless against the mighty forces of nature.



The Gallery of Modern Art. Looks okay, but the ground floor is submerged as is the restaurant underneath. Taken from the Kurilpa Bridge which links my street across the Brisbane River to the Cultural Centre, South Bank.


The side of the GOMA, looking towards West End, one of the first suburbs to be inundated. A big mop up is currently underway there. West End is an iconic suburb, full of ethnic restaurants including my favourite, Punjabi Palace.


Looking across (I'm still on our bridge) towards our high-rise section of the CBD. My apartment is behind the tallest apartment building. The waters have receded a little from their peak when I took this shot, but as you can see these buildings were not in any danger. Usually you can see walkways/cycle paths beside the expressway along the river edge.


From my vantage point on the bridge, this is part of the Cultural Centre, South Bank. Here you see the State Library, the Museum, the Edge (a centre of innovation for people under 30), then the South Bank restaurant precinct. All have been inundated on the ground floor. Our walkways/cycle paths are submerged in the foreground. This was the view from my deck so I could keep an eye on it.


Looking towards the Victoria Bridge and the centre of the CBD as the River was rising. The Riverside Expressway on the left went under during the night.


Sandbags in Queen Street Mall the night before the peak was expected. It didn't get flooded...but Louis Vuitton was taking no chances.


Watching the river rise. That is one of our walkways/cycle paths beside the river. The waters went well over the top during the night. That is our newest toll bridge on the right. One of our favourite floating riverside restaurants upstream floated alright, right into this bridge - kapow! No more anniversaries and birthdays there!



 Looking back downriver to the city. Waters rising, pontoons etc floating downriver. Water, water everywhere and lots more to come. All of this went well under.


Enteprising backpacker traveller centre urging the tourists to head north.


Major South Bank pontoons going under. The river came right in over all of this parkland. We only just got back from our photo sortie in time!


Watching the waters rise was definitely a camera moment. Those are the edges of walkways you can see, looking across to the city from South Bank.


Just this morning I went hunting. Came home pretty empty handed. Good for the diet!


There's a few limes and avocadoes and some bruised mangoes left. That's about all in the fruit and vege dept. Eek, I'll have to resort to frozen with lots of guacamole!


Can't do without our coffee. Coffee vans along the street dispensing energy by the cupful. Our brave police hate being snapped. Sorry guys! Please don't arrest me!


Volunteers putting the sand on the South Bank beach to good use. Filling sandbags to save the shops.


The backpackers just keep arriving. Maybe they'll help wash the mud off the streets! At least the worst is over we hope.

So we're going to be busy cleaning up for weeks, months, across Queensland. We're all waiting anxiously for people to be found. We know there's lots of sad news to come.

I hope this photo essay was informative and reveals a little of what we're going through.

There is a book in the pipeline, 100 Stories For Queensland where writers are invited to submit flash fiction up to 1000 words as a way to raise money to help us rebuild. The subject matter is to be uplifting - no death, disaster, bleak storylines. Only one submission per person. I don't have the guidelines link as I'm on another computer, but it is all over facebook! I posted it yesterday. It'd be cool if you could donate a story. I'm working on my story now!
Denise :)

35 comments:

Iris B said...

denise - it's really eerie, isnt it, words just can't describe it. we got hit yesterday, thank goodness no water in our house, but 3 houses down the road the whole block was inundated with water. big clean up today .... by all means not as severe as in QLD, but I suppose when you have to leave the house it doesn't matter how severe it actually is. my heart goes out to everyone - there's a wonderful auction by writers around the world on FB to help out .... I can only urge people to go and have a look ..... stay safe, Denise!

Mason Canyon said...

Denise, glad you are okay. These photos are amazing. What we hear and see on the TV is only little snippets. Your photos bring it home as to the disaster you're living through. Hope the waters go down soon. Take care.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Colene Murphy said...

SO pleased you're alright! But those are some incredible pictures! Wow! I had no idea it looked like that!! Be careful!! I hope things get back together as quickly as possible!

Nomes said...

wow. this just feels so bizarre, looking at all these pictures. thanks for sharing all this ~ so fascinating to see. so glad you're okay :)

we lived in redcliffe a few years ago and my sister lived in paddington ~ so we were alwasy roaming around the city. i can't imagine what it feels like.

i am also so encouraged to see just how brilliant all the queenslanders are with it all. such a great bunch of Aussie. makes me proud! thinking of you!

Jemi Fraser said...

It's just devastating. I hope the worst is indeed over and that there's less bad news than expected. Hopefully there will be more stories of amazing rescues. Take care.

Unknown said...

I'm so glad you're safe. I hope that you stay that way. The pictures are so scary.
CD

Denise Covey said...

Iris: This flooding is so widespread over eastern Oz. People are wonderful!

Mason: Thank you.

Coelene: Yes, it is rather strange.

Nomes: There's just so many great stories of bravery. I haven't heard a word about Redcliffe, maybe they were immune. Of course Paddo is on high ground, but Milton and the brewery weren't so lucky! Did you see Suncorp Stadium became an inland sea?

Jemi: I only hope none of the missing are dead but I guess that's a fond hope seeing many were seen being washed away. One body was found 80 kilometres from where she was taken. Horrible.

Clarissa: Yes, but even so they don't really give a true picture of how high the waters were and thankfully I wasn't in the worst of it, but scary enough!

Jai Joshi said...

My word, it's incredible. We think of stuff like this as being in a big budget disaster movie but to see it in a real life city such as Brisbane, I'm shocked and terrified. I hope that you and your family continue to remain safe and that this awful situation begins to get better soon.

Jai

The Words Crafter said...

Hey Denise. I just scheduled a post with lots of news in it, including the flooding and the anthology. I wanted to link your post from facebook, but I'm too sleepy to figure it out.

I'll be back to check out the Christine Bell interview. I'm glad you're okay!

Stay high and dry and try to have a wonderful weekend. You and your whole country are in my thoughts and prayers.

Duh! I'm sleepy! The photos are amazing...in great ways, and in haunting ways....

Al said...

These piccie bring it home I know all these places well.
I saw a pic of water across Milton Road the other day, that really brought it home to me just how high the water got.
Thanks for sharing Denise.
Thank heavens the worst of the horror seems to behind Queensland. Now comes the rebuild.
Of course the real tragedy is all the people who were swept away and will never have the chance to pick up the pieces.

Jules said...

Denise - thanks for the update and the photos. I will find the Facebook link and urge all my friends to help in anyway they can.

Stay high and dry my friend. :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Zan Marie said...

Denice,
Stay dry and safe. The pics are amazing, but do be careful.

Lindsay N. Currie said...

Wow, that was a fascinating.. . albeit scary post. I can't imagine how difficult it is to live through that. Thanks for giving us all a glimpse into it and stay dry!!!

Grandpa said...

Denise, it's a horrible tragedy that befall such a beautiful city. I'm glad you are safe.

I'm very impressed with the voluntary spirit of the people helping one another, and the well organised recovery effort. Premier Anna Bligh was seen on TV giving details of relief centres, etc. which I think not many in her position could do.

The Words Crafter said...

Hey Denise, I posted about the anthology and put a link on my sidebar. I really hope it helps!

kerrie said...

Hi Ms L.A.W
Thanks you for the photos I can't imagine what you guys been through but I am so glad you are ok. I look forward to hearing about the novel and all the stories of heroes and good people.
regards
K

broken biro said...

Been watching on TV here in UK - visited Brisbane 2 years ago and can't believe what we're seeing - our thoughts go out to all of you over there and the stoicism with which you're facing it!

Elliot Grace said...

...those photos are breathtaking in their travesty. When ill at ease, Mother Nature can change lives faster than any other source of horror us humans could ever dream up.

You're in our prayers.

EL

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your photos. In the last three years I've been to Brisbane and QLD twice - in January - for a summer holiday. I can't fathom how destructive this disaster has been.

Our thoughts are with you all.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Devastating and mindblowing. And those of us elsewhere still can't grasp the scope of what's happened. It's like the flooding and damage from our hurricanes - unless you're here, you really can't comprehend it all.

Golden Eagle said...

I'm so glad you're okay! Those are amazing pictures.

It's one thing to hear about flooding on the news, it's another to actually hear it straight from someone who's experiencing it . . .

Stay safe!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Wow...
Glad you are safe. I hope Old Kitty's sister didn't return to a flooded home.

Carol Riggs said...

Thanks for the photos and the update, Denise! Wow, a lot of damage there, buildings submerged, etc. Yes, it will take some time to clean it all up.

Anonymous said...

Amazing photographs! They tell more than words ever could. It's always wonderful to me the way people help each other in such difficult times. Glad you're safe!

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

Great snaps in terms of photography! Dreadful consequences in terms of disaster zone. Brazil had a pounding, now Srilanka (Ceylon) and South Africa are suffering from extreme flooding. Who next?

best
F

Denise Covey said...

Thank you all you wonderful posters!

Words Crafter: Glad you got the link worked out.

The spirit of our people has been amazing. They told us it was like a war zone but thankfully we have an army of volunteers to clean up. Go Aussie!

alexia said...

Oh my goodness! Bless you guys, that is terrible. I will send positive thoughts in your direction!

Sari Webb said...

Denise,

I've been following the Queensland news closely and some of the stories are just so heart wrenching.

I'm glad you're safe and ok, and hopefully the worst is now behind us.

I'm in Melbourne and it feels so far removed from the disaster taking place.

Good luck with the clean up.

Sari

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your photos with us Denise, I walked all around that area when I was over, it is so scary to see the devastation. Glad you are safe. I'll be at the auction tomorrow.

Maria Zannini said...

It's amazing how blithely nature destroys everything man can build.

I'm glad you're all right. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

Glynis Peters said...

My heart goes out to all those who are struggling over there. My mother in law told me her story of surviving the UK 1953 East coast floods. The loss and months of clean up were heartbreaking.

Thank you for sharing your story and pictures. Stay safe.

HelenMWalters said...

Those are amazing photos. Thanks for letting us know what's going on.

Denise Covey said...

Thank you all. The auction should be amazing! Thanks to all those who are involved in any way.

LR said...

Wow look at that empty supermarket.

That would be good for a diet! :)

Glad you're all right.

Adina West said...

I've been following this story closely but seeing your photos and hearing your experience first hand makes it seem more real. You must have felt so fortunate to be in a high-rise apartment building, but seeing the waters rise and being stranded must have been both surreal and very frightening.

Best of luck with the cleanup. Our hearts go out to you all.