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Who’s been in a flood?
I’m in Queensland Australia & again we are flooded in already with the worse yet to come but we are far better off than some. The thing is with panic buying, some people buy up what they can but end up throwing a lot of it away that someone else who did without could have used, very annoying & unethical to say the least.
Topics:
floods panic buying unethical
Mathew Naismith 10+
Thanks for keeping us so well informed throughout Kate & thanks to Mary & the others.
Av a good one all.
Love
Mathew
Kate Blake 50+
Well in the south east of the state they have found E-Coli in their water supply. While further north in Rockhampton the locals are being confronted by snakes and crocodiles as they try to clean up.
Here in Bundy I hear that many are disheartened and say they will not return to North Bundaberg - with months before the infrastructure can be put in place relocation maybe the best solution. these people are now in their sixth night of temporary accommodation with no quick solutions in sight.
Will be in town tomorrow but doubt I'll be back in time to report before this conversation closes, so let me review some lessons from this and maybe Mathew can highlight his own when he sums this conversation up.
Be prepared for flooding in the wet season, this isn't the first time this has happened. Have a strategic alternative organised for you, your pets and your worldly possessions. And implement this plan when you are warned.
Don't bother to panic buy it will only rot when the power goes off
Evacuate, leave your home immediately, when told to - saves risking many lives wrenching people off their roofs in the middle of the night!
Don't loot, it's always wrong to take anything that doesn't belong to you; but it's exceptionally low when these folk are already going through the wringer ...
And be very very grateful to all those who risk their lives, work tirelessly to assist and donate whatever they are capable of.
Others try to emulate Australia's Disaster Plans, I think they have a well organised structure and work very effectively.
Well done to all those who have worked tirelessly over the past week and will continue to do so for months to come!
Thank You Each and Every One!
Kate Blake 50+
North Bundaberg (Bundy) where the residents weren't allowed in yesterday has 10 houses destroyed and 30 condemned houses. It is riddled with snakes and rats - the first to move in once the waters receded. It seems they found a little girls body in the mud and as no children were reported missing they can only assume that her family are somewhere there also. Rescue workers are looking now.
One nursing home that wasn't too badly affected will still take another 2-3 days before the residents can return. The clean up operation is thorough but very slow.
Kate Blake 50+
They said 30 properties have been destroyed, one has shifted to the middle of the road and another one they cannot locate at all! The infra structure is gone completely - water, power, sewage, roads. Just completely destroyed. Some roads are washed away another with a hole two metres deep and 100 metres long.
All those people will be sleepless tonight worried if it's their property gone completely. Do hope they call me in soon.
Forgot to mention that one of the politicians doing the rounds of the worst hit areas is saying very loudly that he wants the govt. to help relocate these residents. Some of the roads and bridges washed away had only been completed in December after the 2011 flooding. He says they can't keep rebuilding on the flood plains, we must move these people. Harsh for those concerned but realistic considering the circumstances.
Mary M. 100+
But, relocation is probably the best solution, I can't imagine the gov't rebuilding a city over and over again when there are other alternatives.
What a dilemna!!!
Mathew Naismith 10+
This is a very good point in continuously building in flood areas, I look around Maryborough & Hervey Bat & I can see where the councils have allowed estates to be built in areas that are swampy &/or flood prone, is it the same in Bundy Kate? I don’t know how they get away with it but they do.
Maryborough had a flood I think in 1886 that devastated the original settlement area so they built up higher but of course this didn’t alleviate the problem all together but did it helped immensely. We know in the wet season we could be in flood so anything that is in these flood prone areas should take the initiative & prepare themselves for flood even if it doesn’t flood but to allow buildings to be built in known flood areas is reckless. The authorities should monitor these rising waters & inform these people who live & work in these flood prone areas that there is a likely hood of a flood coming their way but anyone who’s situated in flood areas should also show initiative as well, we do!!!
Love
Mathew
Kate Blake 50+
They know that their infrastructure will take at least 3-5 months to put into place. And then of course the discussion about whether it will happen there. They say everything is just smashed. So these people will be without homes for months to come ....
Kate Blake 50+
Should add that my facts come from the ABC on-line news, I edit their headlines. Much of it is my own antidotal stuff that I try to keep as accurate as possible.
Well the volunteer organisers in Brisbane saw my post code and called me to do 2 x four hour shifts of hard labour over the weekend. Seems they only got part of my registration details, but now we have phone and email contact and looks like I could be busy soon.
Kate Blake 50+
Mainly they are asking for hard labour and chain saws - I am not capable of either. But did volunteer in 3 areas that I am. Having one's own transport is essential to get from A to B, I don't have a vehicle so unless a neighbour is in the same team that will be a hinderance.
The DP is so well organised that the authorities ask for what they want when it's needed and believe me there are plenty of men out there just itching to chain saw so that need will be filled. Years ago they used to have to call for mattresses and bedding, clothes and toys for these evacuation centres, run by Salvos and Vinnies here, but now that is all automatically organised. the only extra they had to call for this time was life jackets, and this call went out over every form of media, including the megaphone on the chopper - so everyone knows and drops those items at the designated place.
It is a very well orchestrated plan and anyone jumping that is not appreciated they become a hazard to themselves and those with the designated jobs to do. Imagine the pickle if every do-gooder rushed down to do their thing, there would be no organisation or co-ordination. And those two are essential for such a large operation to be successful so everyone should respect this.
Meanwhile I'm hearing people/victims are disheartened, they are hanging their heads, lost their bounce. Twice in two years is just too much to cope with. They are frustrated that they didn't get reasonable notice, etc etc .
Should credit the ABC, it's their info I summarise.
Mathew Naismith 10+
The thing is Kate most people had plenty of time to organise a plan of action just in case as the north was already flooding & the depression was moving very slowly which of course added to the problem once it hit.
We knew it was going to hit days before it hit, of course it could have gone out to sea or dissipated but you always plan it’s going to hit, I think one place up north had 36in’s, that should have said something to the people down here however the no one could have foreseen the mini tornados. I know the rivers down here came up fast but so did the northern rivers.
People can be a little too complacent at times; we made plans for it to flood so why couldn’t have others who were caught by the flood however many did make plans I understand as this is the rainy season. We rely on others to tell us but why can’t we just use a little bit of common sense ourselves however common sense can’t help a great deal in preparing for flush flooding.
Love
Mathew
Mary M. 100+
Everything works better when there is a spirit of cooperation.
You will have to share with me what kind of work you will do in volunteering.
We had a hurricane come through in 1992....Hurricane Andrew....it hit the Homestead are really hard..
It was do disappointing to see the disorganization with the local relief agencies. Truck loads of donated things were just dumped on a corner....no tents, no order, and people showed up randomly to pick up supplies. Lots of people from neighboring towns went down to get stuff for free...so sad!!!
It took about 7 days for my church to get the relief work organized, but when it finally did, the work done was incredible.
I would get up around 4:30 a.m. and carpool down to the area to prepare breakfast alongside others. We fed hundreds of volunteers in the morning, then off they went to clean homes and repair roofs.
While they were away, we prepared lunch. Then the volunteers would come back in for lunch, and sit around to relax. Dinner was given by the homes that were lodging all the volunteers.
I remember how swollen my fingers got from all the manual labor. Even my face swelled up and I would wake up with my eyes all swollen and shut. We worked so hard.
They had a professional mobile kitchen and the cooks had experience preparing meals for hundreds of people.
Usually after lunch, the chefs in charge would have us peel and prep items for the next day, to keep a leg up.
That relief work went on for months and months. Thousands came from all over to help. Sometimes for a day sometimes the weekend, sometimes for a few weeks. I remember a group of young people who came from New Jersey.....they were so energetic. Their volunteer spirit was contagious.
Natural disasters are hard to live through. But it is heartwarming to see the best of us come out in the form of helping our fellow human beings.
Salim Solaiman 50+
Mathew Naismith 10+
Yes I'm still here but have been a little busy, I don’t ask many questions & I don’t watch the news so I haven’t much info except on the history of flood levels in Maryborough. At this time of the year it’s usually expected that we will sustain some sort of a flood, loss of life & lively hood however we haven’t had this kind of flood since 1974.
The flood statistics are as follow from 1893 flood which was the biggest flood in recorded history in Maryborough.
Flood levels are measured from the top of the body of water at that time of year, if you’re on a tidal river it is measured to the top of the full tide which means any water measured is above the surface area of water.
History flood levels for Maryborough QLD
1893-12.27m
1955-11.30m
1974-10.95m
2013-10.70m
Of course there have been many floods in between that have disrupted people lives but these major floods aren’t just disruptive but devastating to so many more people.
Love
Mathew
PS The looting isn't too good
Kate Blake 50+
The Prime Minister, Julia, is here today; only her ardent fans will attend as most feel it's election campaigning and she wont roll up her sleeves to get in to help.
The clean up has begun. The general description is it looks and smells like a dump; its smelly, ugly and brown. The flood waters have left their mark on every possible surface, even the grass is brown, muddy and smelly. A huge chunk of road was torn up, just like an orange peel, they are fixing that now. That must have been what the army to clear so the traffic could get through to Bargara.
The supermarket and most shops are functional, the newagency is still cleaning up. The ocean is a muddy brown as far as you can see.
The estimate is now about $300 million .... people and business will have to pay to have their property wiring checked before the power can be connected. The Electricians Union will provide a team to do it free for the needy. Insurance is often an issue but lets face it many that build in low lying areas do so because they cannot afford higher ground. Then they can seldom afford insurance anyway and so the circle goes on.
Mary M. 100+
Your updates are really informative.......I keep sharing all you write with my family.
I'll ask you what I asked Matthew....
Are you able to volunteer your time with the clean up....perhaps on the weekend with some charity group? Do such groups exist?
How are those displaced from their homes helped? Are they placed in hotels, or are temporary homes put up for them? Or perhaps are they left to fend for themselves?
Hopefully you are not looting like Matthew....LOL.....
I'm off to start my day....Enjoy your evening. Stay safe
Kate Blake 50+
Aus has Disaster Plans in place at many levels and anyone belonging to a charity, church, sports or service group, etc will be trained by them. They then have very specific roles, this is why the rescues happened so smoothly. I was certainly trained for disasters and most professionals will have at least a semester training for such issues.
The 'evacuation centres' that I mentioned elsewhere are their temporary homes - these are mainly the schools now but often Church halls are used. People all camp together in the large space, meals are cooked by teams of volunteers, others will be recording their details to forward for relief funds - our govt. give $1,000 cash up front, others handing out water and chatting as needed. All this is highly organised and anyone unknown, without ID is not welcome as some reporters have snuck in to get a more personal angle to their story.
As I said 7,500 people were displaced but only 1,500 needed to go to these centres. That means that 6,000 people were taken in by family, friends or strangers - how wonderful is that!
Here in Bargara on Saturday when the typhoon struck one hotel immediately offered 30 rooms to anyone who needed it. Usually those whose roof had blown off or trees had crashed through their home. Everyone does just as much as they can because disasters draw people together and forges some very strong bonds. But sadly there are some greedy people who try to take advantage of the situation by looting. Know of a story where a guy offered to carry stuff out, they later realised that he loaded it into his own truck and then took off with it. Hence the need for ID is most essential unless a neighbour.
Kate Blake 50+
Mathew Naismith 10+
Sorry Mary I wasn’t being ignorant I just missed out on your reply somehow.
No I’m not in a position to volunteer Mary as I’m a little handicapped but being a carpenter/joiner my services are there in an emergency which has occurred. I can work but only to a degree plus I don’t usually volunteer however in saying that I did work at a learning centre for the disabled for thee & a half years tutoring in woodwork & literacy/numeracy mostly as a volunteer & I have helped out the lions club in emergency situations.
The army’s helping out & there are volunteers from all over helping out as well.
Concerning the looting it looks like most cheeky flood victims have taken their valuables with them this time, what is the world coming too……Joking…..There’s only been a couple of people caught looting but of course there are many more that don’t get caught I’m afraid. The authorities need to keep this under their hats a lot of the times because if flood victims thought for one minute that they were going to be looted they wouldn’t leave but in all in Australia most of us are a good punch of people who wouldn’t think of looting.
Love
Mathew
Mary M. 100+
Thanks for the stats.....I was wondering if you are in a position to volunteer with the clean up?
Are there local or international volunteers that come in and help out?
How are the people who lost their homes helped? By church groups, or Red Cross or other group?
And.....what do you mean the looting isn't too good? Because I can interpret it as
1....It's not good that some people are looting, OR
2...You yourself are looting, and aren't happy with what you are finding :o LOL
Kate Blake 50+
Kate Blake 50+
Sugar mill and storage, damage about $10 million
Fruit and veg lose could be as much as $100 million
Tour operators are struggling
Fisherman can't fish because their catch has washed out to sea
Elsewhere the waters have derailed an overland train
In an interview with One of the Blackhawk pilots he said the biggest danger for them having so many aircraft in the air doing similar rescues so they need to watch each other carefully. They are flying very low and very close. He said the rescues that stand out in his mind are the elderly stretcher cases that would not have got out without their help. (he skilfully avoided mentioning the idiots that could but didn't evacuate). He said as the waters recede what he sees from the air is mud, just brown mud. It's everywhere and has left tide marks on buildings. And he said the smell of that mud ... Some houses still don't have the roofs visible, he said most places its still like a sea.
He said the Disaster plan was working well, the choppers were only on the ground 10-15 minutes to load or unload as the Lifesavers and SES were organising everyone on ground level. He said all the groups were working well together.
Toll so far is 6
Kate Blake 50+
M how about a few antidotes from Maryborough? Have a long-term friend there but she is well out ot the way.
Here is a quote I just got from other friends - her sister is elderly and been through some very heavy cancer treatment recently so I wondered how she faired:
"My sister has been in the Oakwood school for last 3 days but they were lucky enough that water has gone down so they were allowed to go home this afternoon and the water stopped at the door so there was nothing inside the house. She sat down and cried and cried with relief." Don't tell my prayers don't work!
Kate Blake 50+
People are completely devasted, heart broken - they've lost their home, their vehicle, everything but what they could carry out in a rush ... the tension is mounting as they struggle with the severity of what has really happened.
But may I share with you mother natures wonderous side in all of this. We were in a pretty severe drought, grass, trees everything looked brown and dead. Yet after those first few hours it seems like the grass greened completely before our eyes. It wasn't dead at all just hybinating waiting for more favouable conditions to grow and flourish once more. So today the lawn mowers are added to the symphony of choppers and now only occasional sirens.
The malnourished hibiscus is suddenly in full bloom after quenching its thirst. The hedges have bright green foliage as they bud into growthonce more. Yet sadly this all too much for most farmers. Sugar cane, the main crop here needed rain desperately but too much has ruined the crop. Dairy farmers have had to ditch thousands of gallons of milk because the trucks cannot get through to collect their produce. Some are so hard hit that they will just have to walk off the property - it's not even worth trying to sell their farms.
Sure our government does give farmers, families and businesses some compensation but this state, Queensland, in particular has been too hard hit in recent years and the compensation never covers costs. And of course the banks are collecting donations all over the country to top that up .. but still it's not enough to rebuild your whole life.
Feel blessed that I am down to a couple of suitcases having just returned from so many years absence.
So those who believe in prayer now would be a good time please? Those scientists amongst you please find a way to ease these extremes? Those with the means, please give?
Kate Blake 50+
Today they should get the roof back on the supermarkets, tonight the shelves will be stocked and tomorrow that coastal village that was first hit will be fairing a bit better.
There always seems to be other jobs to do whilst waiting for the flood water to recede.
Muhammad Aizat Zainal Alam 30+
East Peninsular Malaysia would always experience the seasonal floods normally occurring by the end of the year.What the government would do is to move the people from the affected areas and place them at a designated shelter (normally schools would be the main designated place due to their safeness and the availability of large space). Everyone would sleep in the same room (the school's main hall,of course).For some, this may sound weird but only in this way does the sense of community would be inculcated into the community.People would talk to each other since there are no tv's to watch.They would cook and eat together.This somehow strengthens the bond that they share together.
Let me know how it goes there down under.I have a family member living there and I am really worried sick for her.I pray for all Australia to be safe soon.
Mathew Naismith 10+
It could have been a lot worse for us if the rain kept falling but again like the last flood it stopped otherwise it could have been a lot worse, Bundy already experienced a record flood just imagine if it kept raining so we can all thank God for our blessings. The flood levels are slowly going down & the main highway between the main centres is now open.
I love what you do in your own country as it makes so much sense & I could imagine the bonding that would go on under such circumstances.
Love
Mathew
Mathew Naismith 10+
I am back for now not knowing when the power will go off again as it's up to what's now still coming down the river but it would seem the worse is over for us for now, thank god it didn’t continue raining because we are already equalling the 1955 floods in Maryborough but I here Bundy has broken all records. It’s not really a record one wants to break however.
As usual our heroes are out there doing more than their part.
With this amalgamated council they have stuffed up again where they never have prior to the amalgamation, what can I say about council amalgamations!!!
Love
Mathew
PS I haven't herd of too much looting going on have you Kate?
Kate Blake 50+
I forgot to mention below that Bundaberg was hit heavy by the 2011 floods - surely no one would expect to have those levels topped only two years later. How sad for those just getting on their feet from the last time and now again ... Aussies are strong characters.
Kate Blake 50+
The volunteers, emergency services, police, ADF personal, etc are doing a fantastic job most working none stop for 3 days and nights now. What heroes, thanks!
Kate Blake 50+
It's really eerie, I am living in a dry safe suburb well out of town. Usually a disadvantage but now a blessing. We have electricity, the postman came today 2 hours early (he probably can't reach most of his usual run) and the bus company is running this area to our local shopping centre as usual. Although it will be some days before I can go to town because it's underwater. This morning they are evacuating 190 patients from our hospital to Brisbane - four hours by road, but they will go by Hercules.
Kids have had their summer holiday and were due to start school again today, but the larger schools are now evacuation centres and movement across the town is not possible. As town is underwater most people can't go to work today.
And the eerie or weird part is that I sit here comfortably safe and dry whilst knowing that only a few blocks away people are living out their worst nightmare, dispair, anxiety their constant companions. I have no direct visuals in that I don't have a TV or radio - a lifestyle choice for many years. I usually glean enough from the headlines on the Internet but now friends from interstate are sending links to get the gist of what is happening just down the road. Sure I could walk down but I know spectators are the worst hinderance in the time of disaster and although my skills are not being utilised now I will be very busy with the aftermath.
Kate Blake 50+
Yesterday it was 12 choppers evacuating an evacuation centre, 3 wrenching 30 people from roofs and 98 from high ground not big enough to land the chopper, etc. No wonder the skys sounded so frantic, they were flying until after 1am in order to rescue everyone. Some have the capacity to carry 80 people at a time so they were moving big numbers, believe more than two thousand have been evacuated now.
Why do people stay after being given manditory evacuation orders? They are risking their and their rescuers lives and this happens in every disaster - what is their mentality? That the floods may wash away the neighbours house but I'll be safe? Or I just cannot bear to leave my household goods - is life not still worth living although you lose everything?
But they were saved thank goodness but why make a difficult situation more difficult, I often wonder if they just enjoy the drama, the media attention ...
I've heard of 4 deaths in this area alone now Mary, plus 3-4 in other areas. 3 from when trees fell, one on a car, the couple died later; another on a pregnant mum and her 3 yo, child died later but she is being treated for a broken leg and scratches. Very sad but people are so distraught about losing everything, some homes will be washed away when the river peaks tonight, others have lost their photos, memorabilia of deceased family members, etc. SHould make more mindful to put such precious things on DVD and have a kit ready just in case of emergency because we are fighting wild bush fires in the south, floods in the north - this is a country of extremes and we should all try to be prepared.
Very SAD!
Mary M. 100+
So glad you and Matthew are safe.
How does the relief effort work once it's all over? Have you got knowledge of this?
Kate Blake 50+
But the army is here in force waiting to get started and people just do whatever they are capable of. But ordinary daily life like work and school will take a while, the waters need to recede first and they say that could be days. So people are still in evacuation centres and we are still cut off from town.
The choppers are still buzzing about, they went out about 1.30am last night and buzzed about for 40 minutes so something must have been happening. Just now all we can do is sit and wait.
For me the big haul is the trauma people are experiencing, that feeling of helplessness and hopelessness; completely vulnerable. The grief and loss issues are huge in any disaster and I really believe unless we have been in just such a disaster and lost absolutely everything we have no idea how devastating that is.
Mary M. 100+
We have gone through several hurricanes here in south florida.
And we have been without electricity and under a boil water order for days and days after a hurricane.
I remember one particular time that I longed to see the images of the damage but did not have access to a tv or internet....iphones were not invented yet.....it was terrible when I finally saw the images, but the waiting was murder!!! And the not knowing about friends was also terrible.
So far the images from Australia are incredible......I don't watch much tv......so I am thankful that at least through Mathew and you I learned of this situation and can access online news reports.
I belong to an internation parent's group with members in Australia......I have written to the group to see if they are all allright.
Let's hope for the best.
Thank you so much for sharing. You are all in my prayers. Stay safe.
Mary
Kate Blake 50+
Then hopefully a full family can utilize this house during this difficult time.
The TAFE, trade school, was in full swing taking enrolments today. Last few days of January is traditionally the starting time for school, University, etc. its the beginning of our study year unlike many other countries that start during the year.
Have been told fresh milk, bread and petrol supplies are running low - choppers can bring in the first two but not the later. Schools wont be starting for 2-3 weeks because several are still under water and the others will still be used as evacuation centres.
One lady who needs regular medical treatment had caught the bus to my local centre, due to the flood it's only one bus now instead of two. She thought she would have to make an appointment and come back another day, but her doctor was working there because he could not get into his clinic so all is well.
Death toll is up to 5 all over and a Korean man is still missing. Army is here and waiting but the water is receding very slowly, although they tell me it gushes past ...
Mary M. 100+
Very sad Matthew. Hope you get your power back on soon, and hopefully there are no more casualties.
Mary
Mathew Naismith 10+
The power is off now has been all night, the laptop has a low battery so can't stay long. We are high & dry but a lot of houses aren't. Mary at least we don't have to cross raging waters thank God.
Love
Mathew
Mary M. 100+
I do remember about 13 years ago coming out of work and the streets being flooded. I had to take off my shoes and walk to my car, where the water level was about 2 cm away from entering.....thank goodnes it didn't....and I was able to drive away from the flooded area.
I have also been on an island and been caught in the middle of nowhere when a thunderstorm passed through.... and have had to cross a raging river holding on to ropes.....That was very very SCARY.....at that moment in my life I realized how powerful water current could be.
Matthew, I hope you and Kate remain safe.....and dry!!! Keep us posted!
Kate Blake 50+
Kinda glad I don't have a TV because it would be mesmerising. Am very busy answering texts and emails from dear ones concerned about my safety - I fortunately am on the dry side of town.
But must admit I was shocked Saturday, my usual weekly grocery day, to see so many people and so little stock. You are so right they were panic buying yet with the hundreds evacuated that food will rot in their home - assume meals must be provided at the evacuation centres.
It's kinda weird because I have skills that could be used but nobody knows me here (not long arrived back from years overseas) so I'm not a member of any team. Hence my appearance would only cause further confusion because disaster plans are fairly well inforced - maybe I can help in the clean up. Had my interview booked for such voluntary work on Friday but they had to cancel due to foul weather conditions, ironical really.
Mathew Naismith 10+
The helicopters have been going all day mostly evacuating one whole suburb of Maryborough& the sirens have barely stopped all day. So I gather you’re OK still? Our river has just peaked at 11m supposedly. The problem with us is that the river curves around the town, we are in that pocket were it curves around but it looks like we are OK.
With the panic buying from the last flood you could only buy two loafs of bread max but one lass had eight in her basket & when she got up to the counter the checkout lass said to her that you could only buy a max of two loafs so she threw the loafs of bread on the floor & stomped all over them. Floods can bring the worse out in some people but the best out in most.
Love
Mathew
Kate Blake 50+
Since that first post I recalled that where I grew up, where Mum lives we used to get flooded in most Easters. As kids we loved it, meant we were a few days late getting back to school and we practiced the sport of mud-skiing - what fun! But not the huge scale of what's happening here now.
Mum always had the cupboards stocked, tinned stuff, flour and essentals to cook. The nearest shop in those days was 26km away and we were definitely cut off from there. Plus people used to often drop in unexpectedly so she was always well stocked up just in case.
Notice I've picked up this habit so I can go a month without shopping but two weeks is better. Fresh bread and vegies are always nice but certainly were not always available where I lived in india for years. All good training.
But how childish to stamp on the bread ... very sad.
Mary M. 100+