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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
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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. 50+
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. 50+
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+