Wednesday 5 January 2011

Queensland floods

Thank you to all family and friends who have sent messages and enquired about our well being during the terrible Queensland floods.

Thankfully we have not experienced any of the devastation that has happened in other parts of the state, and we are safe, well and dry.

from Australian Bureau of Meteorology

The map above shows the conditions as of today and we are located in the bottom right corner of Queensland. There has been an unprecedented amount of rain here, and I believe that it's been the wettest since records began over a hundred years ago. However, Brisbane hasn't experienced flooded towns or anything near the "disaster of almost biblical propositions" as  described by Qld treasurer Andrew Fraser.

It's hard to imagine the sheer scale of the flooding. Over 200,000 people in 22 cities and towns have been affected. Some will loose their homes, their belongings and livelihoods. I had a huge lump in my throat watching the news the other night as an elderly couple in Rockhampton were walking through the remains of the home that they had shared for many many years. How do you recover from that?

I have heard that the scale of the flooding is equal to the size of France and Germany. This little postcard gives you an idea what this actually means...



 So I will stop complaining about the incessant rain here in Brisbane,
and thank my lucky stars that we are flood free.

 I will also spare a thought for all of those who are battling with mother nature, and hope that they receive all the help and support that they can to rebuild their homes and lives.

8 Comments and thoughts:

  1. Beth what a wonderful postcard to put into perspective Australia vs Europe. Amazing! Australia seems to be constantly ravaged by the weather be it floods, cyclones, droughts or bushfire. I feel so sad for these people who have lost their homes and possesions. A good reminder to us all that as long as we have a roof over our head and food on the table, we're doing okay!

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  2. It's awful, isn't it? I just heard that up in Rocky, the water flowing through the town each hour? is equivalent to 2 Sydney Harbours. That's incredible. I'm thinking of all the poor animals too.
    I must say I was very suprised by how small Europe looks compared to Aus!

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  3. Happy New Year, Beth!
    I've been down and out
    with the flu for nearly
    ten days, so I hadn't
    heard about this terrible
    flooding. So glad that
    you aren't affected but
    very sorry for the poor
    folks that are. I enjoyed
    catching up on your posts....
    from Santa to spiders {eeK}!!
    Sending you snowy hugs
    from Minnesota, USA ~
    xx Suzanne

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  4. Hi Beth, thanks for visiting my blog. Yours is lovely too. I see we follow the same sort of blogs. What good taste we have! I have been thinking a lot about the floods, it is just so hard to get my head around the scale and the devastation. I'm glad you are safe. Deb

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  5. Hi there :)
    Thanks for posting the postcard, that was really interesting, I was just showing my big kids, they had no idea really. I'm really enjoying reading your blog, thanks for visiting mine, cheers x

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  6. so glad beth that your welsh wellies are only treading the sodden streets not the flooding ones sweet...

    it's just awful- all those farmers, families & land....
    so i wish you a happy new year with a pair of wet wellies on myself...across the waters...

    melissa xox

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  7. what a great post it helps to picture the vastness of Australia ,I have posted a link on my sight ,I hope this is ok?
    Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment on mine earlier glad you liked the Manly Picture it is a lovley beach ,unless the weather was like it was there would hbeen thousands of people there :)

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  8. Thank you for sharing the map Beth.
    We've been trying to put some perspective on the size of the devastation for the children and explained that it is like several European countries are completely covered in water but a map like this is terrific.

    x Felicity

    PS Followed you here from Jane's at Planet Baby

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