QLD Flood Crisis

We ran as fast as we could says Queensland woman.

The above picture was taken from ninemsn and it is certainly a case of 'a picture being worth a thousand words.' A Queensland woman said she and four others ran for their lives when a large crack in the ground turned into a giant pit.

The death toll currently stands at 15 with 61 still missing.

Although I have not been blogging on the situation I have used Facebook as a means of allowing interested friends to keep abreast. Social Networking sites are abound with stories and offers of help. The television shows images that will remain etched in my memory forever.

Thousands of homes in Brisbane are already underwater. I have a sister in Brisbane that is without electricity. Her neighbours on the low side of the street are expected to go underwater while she and my brother-in-law have their own garage filled with the furniture of several neighbours.

Goondiwindi is expecting to peak at 10.85 metres.. The levy bank around the town was designed and built in 1958 and is expected to hold as it is designed to take waters to 11 metres. The hospital and aged care facilities have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

There are amazing photos of yachts on the Brisbane river breaking up and sinking. Miraculously, people on the yachts were rescued.

The Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh has shown the most amazing leadership in face of adversity. Although I was not necessarily a fan of hers prior to this event, she has been elevated in my estimation.

Much of our 'fresh' food is grown in Queensland. Thankfully, the season is almost finished and our fruit and vegetables will soon be coming out of Victoria. There are signs of 'panic' buying as people try to 'stock-up' on essentials. Bread and milk are completely missing from many supermarket shelves. There are pictures of a Coles supermarket in Ipswich completely underwater.

There are heart felt stories of residents having lost everything themselves, reaching out to others. Lives lost in an effort to check on the property of others. These floods do bring back some memories for me. As a youngster, my family were inundated during the floods in Dubbo. I am unsure if it was 1955 or 1956. We lost everything. All personal belongings were swept away when the Macquarie River flooded.

I ask you to hold the people of Queensland in your thoughts and prayers please. There seems to be little else we can do. It is times like this I feel anger knowing that pain and dysfunction prevents me from being in Queensland, sleeves rolled up and assisting in any way possible.



The question is being asked 'Are the Queensland floods Australia's worst natural disaster?'