A child's teddy in a street of the city of Rockhampton. Isn't that just the saddest sight?
A family wades away from their house with the insurance papers. This is a dangerous activity for many reasons, getting washed away, getting infections and getting bitten by..........
........ hundreds of snakes in the water.
SES rescuers are working around the clock rescuing people from their houses by boat. The elderly are often loathe to evacuate.
Cattle stations are under water.
Crops are under water.
Shopping centres too.
People can't get out and supplies can't get in because the airport is under water. However the army are evacuating and bringing in supplies in helicopters. In fact the army are in control of the disaster area.
Queensland will take years to recover from the billions of dollars lost. Our three main industries have all been devastated, mining, agriculture and tourism. Our supply of fruit and veggies is drying up, we will be importing them and the prices are skyrocketing. Our own veggie garden is too wet and the plants have rotted.
Not a good start to 2011 for our wonderful state of Queensland. Our motto of, "Beautiful one day and perfect the next." will have to be reviewed.
You've found some very good pics, and it is a very enlightening report.
ReplyDeletePeople were evacuated in our area of Northern NSW too, and our nearest city, Lismore is still expected to flood, but the river is quite low in our town today, though there is still heavy rain around.
Hugs,
Jan
As big as France and Germany!! Woah I had no idea.
ReplyDeleteMy suggestions for the Revised State Motto:
'Raining one day; pouring the next'
'Soaking one day; soggy the next'
or
'Drought one year; drowning the next'!
It's a great selection of photos ... so heartbreaking watching it all unfold! I see the waters are now down in northern N.S.W. and the Gascoyne has flooded again ... what a horrible start to the new year for so many!
ReplyDeleteso sad, my sister did her uni in Rockhampton.
ReplyDeleteNZ sent a team to help, but they only wanted experts. If they want ordinary people, I want to come over.
We've been watching on TV news channels and following an internet link my Dad sent a while back. Apart from the obvious devastation, it's just incredible to remember this same area was drought stricken, so recently and for a number of years!
ReplyDeleteI'd wondered about all the snakes!!! Especially since you have so many of the world's dealiest living in Australia!
We're having floods and wash-aways in SA, too (Natal has been hit particularly badly - sadly, most of the affected have no insurance at all - they've lost everything!!!)
And here I sit, WISHING for rain!!!
Hi Diane! Hope you entered 2011 in great shape!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a tragedy! I've been following it on TV and it seems to be getting worse all the time... Hope it will stop raining soon!!
Blogtrotter Two is visiting the third largest artificial lake in the world (by volume). No problem of floods there...
Enjoy and have a superb weekend!
Oh my gosh Diane. I have been wondering about the floods. I am thankful you and Bill and somewhat away from it and safer thank goodness. Stay safe. And if those snakes are in the floods, NO WAY would you get ME in those waters!
ReplyDeleteThis is really sad, I can only wish you all a better year ahead...
ReplyDeletePics are extremely sad, especially the first one...it says a lot.
This is just awful. These pictures really show the extent of flooding and it is truly a sad sight.
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray things will start improving.
☼ Sunny
I feel so sorry for the poor people, we see it every day in the news here, it breaks my heart. It is such an immense tragedy.
ReplyDeleteIve been watching on the news - its so awful. We had devastating floods in 2007 in our area and I knew some of the families involved and it was truly heartbreaking. I really pray that the waters subside soon. xxxx
ReplyDeleteDiane;) that is just so awful. My prayers and thoughts are with all in Queensland. Parts of SA has had floods as well, especially Kwa-Zulul Natal and as Desiree says: most have no insurance and have lost all. God's strength and peace to you all. Greetings, Jo
ReplyDeleteI remember that the creek used to rise up to the footings our house when we were kids ... along with the drum of rain there as a sort of quiet lapping noise. But the devastation when it turns into a torrent is not quiet.
ReplyDeleteExcellent photographic coverage Diane.
ReplyDeleteAs for a new Qld motto - well, that could be a topic for our upcoming lunch.
Cheers
Colin
ps: Precious little blue sky this morning also!!! (Yuck!)
Very very sad. Great pics.
ReplyDeleteOh my Gosh .. that is tragic. So terrible and but thank you for sharing; I feel like I know a little more about what is going on. And I feel like I know someone who is affected, if not (fortunately) as bad as others in Queensland.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures to illustrate the tragedy, but so frightening in so many ways.
I am so sorry about all the flooding and devastation happening in QSL. I keep all in my prayers. It will take so long to recover, too. I have never experienced anything like this, so it is hard to imagine all the work involved with the clean up. IF it ever decides to stop raining! Glad you and Bill are safe, but sad that your garden is suffering.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
CottonLady
I feel so awful...I had no idea it was this bad. Please know I will be sending up prayers and healing thoughts..and yes. that teddy is just about the saddest photo ever. Take care my friend and know we are thinking about your beautiful country with heavy hearts.
ReplyDeleteI've been watching the news and wondering how (if) it was affecting you. As you say, the effect will be felt for years to come. What a tragedy. I'm glad you showed us the pictures - that teddy bear floating is just so poignant.
ReplyDeleteOH Diane, This is just so sad.... We are getting quite a bit of coverage in our country now of the huge flood. The area is enormous... A city near here (Nashville, TN) had a horrible flood last year.. They are still recovering --and like you said, it will take a very long time...
ReplyDeleteIt's just so very very sad... I will keep all of those people in my thoughts and prayers..
Glad you all are safe though.
Hugs,
Betsy
It's a terrible disaster ! I have seen it on TV they report every day. All this poor people they have lost everything. When you didn't write posts for quiet a long time I thought you were in troubles too. You are really lucky ! At least it is not cold, we have floodings here because the snow melt and it rains (as usual) houses are also standing under water, and on top it is cold ! 2° ! It's almost impossible to imagine a surface like France and Germany together !
ReplyDeleteFortunately not the same amount of people is concerned living in these countries.
Well written Diane... such a heartfelt reporting of these terrible floods which are all-consuming.
ReplyDeleteYes, really.
ReplyDeleteI thought I knew how bad the floods were, but seeing local pictures really captures the true misery caused by the floods. You are all in our prayers.
ReplyDeletea terrible tragedy. my prayers are with those affected. all of australia will pay the price dearly in the months to come. the pic of the snake is amazing. can you imagine the loss and damage?
ReplyDeletewhich suburb are you two?
ReplyDeleteDaisy Hill, not near the river, we are safe.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a terrible devastation, Diane! Flooding has such long lasting impact. So much will have to be rebuilt, and as you said ti will take years to recover. I wonder if there is any solution to this problem? A way to divert the rain water if this happens in the future?
ReplyDeleteMy husband has a business trip to Sydney in February and I'm going along! Our first visit to your country. We are very excited!
Very sorry to see your plight. It's unbelievable to watch it all unfold, so much water up there and we need it so much down south. Thinking of you all up there and hope it all subsides soon.
ReplyDeleteAll the best.
Our thoughts are with all the flood victims now and to come. This is the kind of thing you think won't happen but when it does it's amazing to see the human spirit leap into action.
ReplyDeleteThis is how your sorrows and plights unfold in the face of providence. My wife is stranded in Brisbane and I can't go there to be with her and console her because of visa restrictions. She can't fly out as the roads are closed. Even we foreigners are in dilemma and understand the traumatic experience the Australian locals are facing at the moment. God have mercy on us.
ReplyDeletemy prayers are with you folk over there - from Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
ReplyDeleteThe only positive is the damns will be full for many years to come as well as creeks,rivers, lakes.Devastated by drought then devastated by floods.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the interesting photos and I would like to let all the residents of Queensland and to all who are affected by this recent natural disaster that my thoughts are with you... Please do not give up hope..
ReplyDeleteGarlic Angel (Dublin, Ireland)
http://hubpages.com/profile/Garlic+Angel
To every family who needs a shelter in Sydney ,my house is yours .Especially , family with kids and elder people.
ReplyDeleteomg that is sad im scared of the snakes
ReplyDeleteOur class in Ontario, Canada has been following the progress of the floods in the news. We are truly upset and feel for the people and animals of Queensland who are suffering. Take care of yourselves, eh.
ReplyDeletethis is very sad:)
ReplyDelete