Tuesday 11 January 2011

Disaster for Brisbane. Excuse me if I'm offline for a few days...PUBLICATION PARTY POST IS BELOW THIS POST...

I interrupt my regular blogging schedule to let you know that Brisbane is facing its biggest natural disaster for 35 years and they're predicting it may be the biggest disaster in Brisbane's history. Maybe you've seen some reports on your news? Maybe not.

Queensland has been suffering floods for weeks and the waters have now reached Brisbane. It's been raining and storming here steadily for days, and the great Brisbane River has already burst its banks in the lowest-lying areas. Many suburbs are under water. Even where I live in the inner city, shops are closing as people live in the suburbs and are cut off. We've stocked up on food as even though we don't expect to be flooded in our high-rise, we may not be able to get out as the foyer and street below us may go under.

The floodgates at Wivehoe Dam have been opened. Look out Brisbane!

I can see the river from my deck and it hasn't risen much in the last few hours but it is expected to rise alarmingly tonight at about 11 pm due to the rain and because water was released from the huge Wivenhoe Dam north of Brisbane this afternoon and that is when it will reach us. Wivenhoe is at 140% capacity and the equivilent of two Sydney Harbours are flowing through the dam every day, so the water has to come through the Brisbane River.

Toowoomba after the 'tsunami' hit yesterday, Jan 10th.

Our Premier Anna Bligh was crying on television today (well, she is a woman and a mother) as 9 people (including children) have been drowned when a violent tsunami of water struck one of our cities an hour inland from Brisbane. Water flashed through the main street, picking up people, cars and whatever was on the street at the time. 66 people are still missing so we pray they are safe, although the police say it is unlikely they are alive. Small towns in the Brisbane Valley have been smashed to smithereens and left to float downstream. Police are finding dead bodies in homes. An horrific start to 2011 for my state.

You tube has the horrific footage of the 'tsunami' that hit Toowoomba yesterday under 'Toowoomba flash flood.' It is too upsetting for me to put it up.

One of the reasons I'm posting is that the internet is getting dicey and I may be off the air soon. There is more information on the #brisbanefloods stream on twitter where I have added some updates.

My husband has just rushed off with his camera to get some shots of the City Cat pontoons that have been ripped from their moorings and are floating down past us along with trees and bits of houses. Scary days ahead...

44 comments:

VR Barkowski said...

I feel as though the world has run amok. Absolutely terrifying photographs, Denise. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please, stay safe.

Denise Covey said...

VR Barkowski: Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Yes, the world has gone mad in more ways than one!

Iris B said...

Denise - will be thinking of you and in fact all of qld during these very testing times. Stay safe and we all hope that you'll be one of the lucky ones to "escape" the water.

joanne fox said...

I was just hearing about this on the morning news report. I can't imagine how frightening it must be for everyone in the area. Take care, and let us know how you're doing if you're able to get online. x

Wen Baragrey said...

I'm thinking of you all, over there. You poor things. Having recently gone through our own natural disaster here in Christchurch (7.1 earthquake) that we're still recovering from, I have a small idea of what you're all going through. Not entirely, of course. I'm so sorry. Good luck and I hope you're okay. Keep safe.

Denise Covey said...

Iris: We hope so too! Thanks!

Joanne: Still online. Thanks!

Wen: We suffered with you in CC and more quakes since! Poor you too! We have to be stoic in our disaster-prone countries!

Nomes said...

it's insane and surreal.

stay safe! thinking of you! we had two major floods in coffs last year but it was nothing like what things look like up there.

my husband is on the flood relief phone lines. has already heard some heart breaking stories.

xx thinking of you!

Denise Covey said...

Nomes: Thank you. Northern NSW is flooding in areas, too, isn't it? Around Grafton? I think the next 2 days here are going to be heart-breaking alright! So many poor people...

Helen said...

I've just been catching up on the pictures and video footage. It looks terrifying. Thinking of you all.

Karen said...

That is scary - and we were worried about a few inches of snow over here in the UK.

Hope it all settles down soon, and take care.

Denise Covey said...

Helen: Just as well we're tought!

Karen: It is scary, especially seeing the wall of water is due during the night when it will be harder to see.

Grandpa said...

I offer a prayer for your safety and my thoughts are with you Denise. I pray that Brisbane doesn't get any worse than this.

Stay safe and take care.

Unknown said...

Stay safe. i went to Brisbane 3 years ago, and took a river cruise. Can't believe what is happening to that placid river.

Tony Benson said...

Denise, my thoughts are with you and all in Brisbane. What's happened is terrible, in fact almost un-believable.

Stay safe, and I hope you and yours come through this ok.

When you get a chance to look, there's an award waiting for you at:

http://firesidepark.blogspot.com/2011/01/stylish-blogger-award.html

Margo Benson said...

Oh my! Thinking of you and yours - how frightening. Yes, we have seen iton our news and it's incredible. Stay safe x

Jules said...

I have seen this on the news here in US and wondered about my Aussie friends. Stay safe, be smart and blessings be with you.
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Su said...

Stay safe. I'll be watching the news anxiously.

HelenMWalters said...

Goodness, it looks and sounds terrible. I really hope things get better soon.

Megan K. Bickel said...

Please stay safe! My prayers are with Australia. Take care of each other.

Laura Eno said...

I've been following this and it's incredible that it's been going on for so long now! My heart goes out to all of you and please stay safe, Denise!

Kit Courteney said...

It's been on the news a lot here in the UK. The reports have been terrifying.

All I can say is that I hope you, your friends and family and everyone in the flooded areas stay safe and well.

notesfromnadir said...

Thank you for posting this to let your readers know how you're doing. Will be hoping the waters abate soon.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I will be praying for you and everyone caught in this disaster!

Ellen Brickley said...

This has been all over the news here in Ireland, too. Take care of yourself Denise, thoughts and prayers and with everyone in Brisbane. Stay safe.

Colene Murphy said...

Wow! I hadn't heard. Had no idea!! Will be praying for you and everyone out that way!

Unknown said...

I don't know if you'll get this comment but I hope you and your family (as well as all the families there) are safe. The weather is so crazy everywhere!
CD

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

Yep, been watching the footage over the past weeks and holding breath, wondering how Brisbane and coastal areas would cope with High Tides as well with continued volatile downpours. Force of nature is awesome and can be terrifying at times. Thinking of you, and all those poor washed out souls.

best
F

Ps, haven't heard of any big named celebs getting together for an OZ Aid Concert!

Denise Covey said...

Hello everyone. Just a quick hello and we're okay so far. Power is off in most of the city but not the inner city so far. Hopefully we may be lucky as we're usually immune. In case the power goes off, I'll move off quickly and make some preparations.

Thank you so much for your thoughts, prayers and lovely caring comments..:)

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, my boss (Aussie expat) just sent me some video. Please be safe! Good luck! :(

N. R. Williams said...

Oh no, I didn't know this. Be safe. We will all watch for your return. And prayers are coming your way. So sad.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author

Kari Marie said...

My thoughts and prayers are with you. This looks terrifying.

The Words Crafter said...

I've been reading about this everywhere. All of you are in my prayers daily. Keep high and keep safe!

Golden Eagle said...

I've seen this on the news here in the USA. Stay safe!

Joanna St. James said...

Hang in there my lovely. I thot of you when I saw it in the news

xoxo

Jai Joshi said...

I had heard of the disastrous flooding, L'Aussie. Your photos bring it even closer to me. I'm so sorry to hear that you're going to be affected too. It's a horrifying situation.

My thoughts and best wishes are with you and Australia.

Jai

Denise Covey said...

Thank you everyone. I've still got my head above water but it is rising steadily and won't reach its peak until early tomorrow morning. Such tragic happenings all around. So far I still have power and water which is very lucky for me.

Thanks again. You're great friends..:)

Al said...

Good Luck Denise.

Stay Safe! Don't take any risks!

My Girls are stranded in Toowoomba at the minute. They are safe which is the main thing.

Carol Kilgore said...

Lots of prayers going out for you and everyone. Stay safe.

Carol Riggs said...

Whoa, totally understandable if you take a bloggy break. Prayers to you during all this. What staggering photos.

Tessa Quin said...

This is terrible! I had heard of the floods, but I didn't know until reading your blog that people had died (because I'm not watching the news much - they make me nervous). It's so sad. I hope you'll be safe, Denise.

kerrie said...

I hope it is all over soon it looks terrible on TV I cant beleive it is happening I hope you are safe and well
K

Jemi Fraser said...

It is terrifying Denise - I hope you continue to stay safe. I hope you've seen the worst and it will only get better.

The Happy Whisk said...

Oh my goodness. Sorry to read this. Sending you all the good wishes I have, and I even borrowed some from our neighbor. We've got them all in a sack and I'm teleporting them to you now.

Also, good job on the Publication Party Post.

Anonymous said...

Just checking in to see how you are. It has been an awful time. I have been in tears over some of the stories. Stay safe. Thinking of you.