Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: regiment on January 04, 2011, 01:33:12 pm
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has any body noticed no appeal for the aussie flood victims but if it was for our coloured friends money would be flooding in (SORRY ABOUT THE PUN) by now after all we still get on forget the ashes
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If you or anyone else wish to send a donation you can here.
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html (http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html) thats the queensland govt site for donations. I am sure they will be very happy to receive money from the UK :-))
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I was astounded yesterday when they were saying the flooded area was equivalent to the land area of France AND Germany combined! :o
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I was astounded yesterday when they were saying the flooded area was equivalent to the land area of France AND Germany combined! :o
Martin,
Queensland covers a BIG/LARGE/MASSIVE area it takes a full TWO DAYS driving to travel from Cairns to Brisbane for instance; Rockhampton is just over half way if memory serves. The best thing though is that there hardly any traffic by our standards but, the traffic plod can be devious. The flight time is two hours which is almost the same as Liverpool to Alicante.
MP
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to give and idea of how big Aus is
My Mum is from Perth in W.A. lives here after meeting an marrying my dad, she hasn't been back but we will hopefullyl one day as a family,
she has told me stories about some of the driving they did out there in the 60's roads that were 100's of miles long and arrow straight. or roads where there is 1 rock or tree in 30 miles to break up the landscape, and what happens to this 1 tree or rock? it becomes a beacon and people drive into it %%
My Grandfather once told me he drove 500 miles 1 morning to have breakfast with his grand kids, then saw them to school then drove 500 miles home again.
500 miles here is a massive drive, there its a trip for breakfast. The scale is huge, another cousin has a sheep ranch, his nearest town is 2 days drive, the go into town every 3 months spend the weekend there having "fun" and getting supplies then head back home for another 3 months.
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Yes they are doing it tough. <:( <:( <:(
To put it in perspective Australia in area roughly equates to the USA.
The mainland is divided into basically 6 states actually one is called, Northern Territory. Tasmania (an Island) is the other state.
If I remember correctly our small state of Victoria roughly equates to the UK.
So when things go pear shape such as fires, floods, cyclones its big time, plus we are not many in number but humongous in spirit. Actually we are a little too preoccupied to concentrate on winning the Ashes so will do so next time %) %) %)
It is common and normal to drive about say 200 kilometres round trip from say Brisbane in the same day to party on at the Gold Coast or North Coast for New Year and events etc. O0 O0 O0
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(http://s3.postimage.org/1zlcuqiys/QLD_Flood.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/1zlcuqiys/)
This map shows the State of QLD with floods, yesterday.
The furthermost west rivers Cooper and Diamantina flow into Lake Eyre a salt lake currently with some water in it, Australians lowest point at 12 metres below sea level It takes 2-3 months for the water in these rivers to reach Lake Eyre , the river flowing south flows into the Murray/ Darling system where it exits the sea near Adelaide SA. Flood waters from about 2 months ago that fell in Queensland recently caused minor flooding in Mannum east of Adelaide on the Murray.
On the subject of distance one Christmas my wife and me drove from Lismore (2 hours south of Brisbane) to Adelaide, 2000 Klms in 20 hours. Never again %%
Nick
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it takes a full TWO DAYS driving to travel from Cairns to Brisbane for instance; Rockhampton is just over half way if memory serves.
As a matter of interest, Brisbane to Rockhampton is 635km, while Brisbane to Cairns is 1713km, according to the Hema Road Atlas of Australia. The UK could fit into Victoria with quite a lot of Victoria left over. The Indian Pacific, one of the world's great rail journeys, runs between Sydney and Perth, via Adelaide. It covers a distance of 4352km....each way.
http://www.railaustralia.com.au/indianPacific.php (http://www.railaustralia.com.au/indianPacific.php)
The map below shows the relative sizes of Australia and the 48 contiguous states of the USA.
Peter.
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VERY roughly
Adelaide to Melbourne 1000 Km
Melbourne to Sydney 1000 Km
Sydney to Brisbane 1000 Km
Brisbane to Cairns 1500 Km
Adelaide to Perth 2300 Km
Lands End to John o' Groats 1000Km
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I know the floods are devastating however the Australian media are trying to outdo each other with having programs broadcast from the disaster zone. Also so they can outdo each other they are calling it RECORD BREAKING. Australia is no stranger to drought and floods and these floods are massive however is has happened before and even worse in some areas 1919 1942 1954 and 1991 (not sure on the accuracy of some of the years). Climate change brigade have jumped on board saying this is evidence of man made global warming just as they did when there was a drought. To me it is Australia just doing what Australia does the best going from one extreme to the other.
Regards David
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Bigfella,
Recall that in 1974 when Brisbane actually flooded, as well as the Gold Coast, referred to as the disastrous 1974 floods, the present weather is almost getting back to the same pattern as back then in 1974.
Namely a lot of rain about Christmas, New Year.
In the interim we have forgotten how wet it normally gets bescause of the recent prolonged drought.
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Climate change brigade have jumped on board saying this is evidence of man made global warming just as they did when there was a drought.
This would be the SAME Global warming people that in the early 70's were saying we are going to have Global Cooling.
Or as I call it Hedging your bets, The planets going to be destroyed by being to hot or cold or tepid or something, now I have produced that report can I have some of the millions spent on there research ? I will spend it on fast cars, fast women, fast boats, and drink, the rest I will waste :D
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Recall that in 1974 when Brisbane actually flooded, as well as the Gold Coast, referred to as the disastrous 1974 floods, the present weather is almost getting back to the same pattern as back then in 1974.
Namely a lot of rain about Christmas, New Year.
In the interim we have forgotten how wet it normally gets bescause of the recent prolonged drought.
I remember the 74 floods. We had only migrated to Australia 4 years before and lived in Redcliffe Peninsula (which became an Island) and my older brothers went into some of the worst hit parts of Brisbane to help. Funny how I remember my grandmother ringing us up from the UK and seeing if we had enough water {-) {-) %% %% . But I can remember in the 70s the rain would last for weeks during summer and it was heavy rain, then suddenly stop. Funny how we forget after a while the WEATHER patterns that suddenly become climate change.
Regards David
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So when things go pear shape such as fires, floods, cyclones its big time, plus we are not many in number but humongous in spirit. Actually we are a little too preoccupied to concentrate on winning the Ashes so will do so next time %) %) %)
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are you saying the floods are the collective tears of Queenslanders after loosing the Ashes ? O0 :P
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The Australian Bureau of meteorology has stated that 2010 was the wettest on record, 1109 mm average for the state since records begun in 1900
Bellenden Ker Top Station had more than 12 metres of rain - 12,438.4 millimetres , that's as much as Mawsynram in India, the place with the record for the wettest average
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/2010-queenslands-wettest-year-on-record-20110105-19fnx.html
And after 2 days sunshine, "its raining again"
Nick
Hey Bungle see post #4 in the STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SNOW ;D
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Actually we are a little too preoccupied to concentrate on winning the Ashes so will do so next time %) %) %)
Lord Bungle:-
Maybe a bit more editing was needed.
I feel deep sorrow for our Northern neighbours as floods do virtually the same damage as bushfires - once the event has passed - nothing is usable - you lose everything....
I just enjoy "RaaArtyGunner" sense of humour.... O0 :-))
Martin doon in Victoria
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Lord Bungle:-
Maybe a bit more editing was needed.
I feel deep sorrow for our Northern neighbours as floods do virtually the same damage as bushfires - once the event has passed - nothing is usable - you lose everything....
I just enjoy "RaaArtyGunner" sense of humour.... O0 :-))
Martin doon in Victoria
Got a lot of time for those down under, think my mums aussie Humour has rubbed off on me a bit as well. I do like the attitude of well its happened no use crying over split milk lets get on with it, that seams to prevail there.
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another cousin has a sheep ranch
Ranch??? :o There's no such thing as a "ranch" in Australia, they're called "stations". "Ranch" is an American term O0
Peter.
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Ranch??? :o There's no such thing as a "ranch" in Australia, they're called "stations". "Ranch" is an American term O0
Peter.
Hey Pete,
Isn't what's referred to as a Ranch in the states is more like a "Hobby Farm" here O0 O0. And Stations are measured in square Kilometers or how many days to walk across O0 O0
Mdu
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Quite right, Martin :-)) Some stations are as big as European countries.
A few statistics - Anna Creek Station is 34,000 square kilometres (about 6,000,000 acres); Belgium is just over 30,000 square km; the biggest American ranch is about 6,000 square km.
This site is worth a look http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/australian-cattle-stations.html (http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/australian-cattle-stations.html)
Queenslanders have been told to expect some more rain, but not as severe as before. We had a couple of good showers over the last two days, almost 7 inches, in fact :o , but because we are right on the coast the water drains away quickly.
Peter.
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lets hope the rain lets up soon , funny everybody keeps claiming global warming , its cold and damp this side of the pond and very wet on your side !
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Good ole Brissie is gettin wet again (still) we had 50mm last night and another 25mm now.
Some parts copped hail and a storm but up north and west is still getting wet.
They'll all look like prunes when its all over.
What a mess all, that water in the open cut mines which are all probably big lakes.
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This is our Local Creek, normal level is 2.5 metres lower and a trickle. the water rises and falls very quickly and all the houses are another 2 metres higher so no damage. Would be fun to have a Jet boat in this.
(http://s1.postimage.org/2794p55hg/IMG_3804_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2794p55hg/)(http://s1.postimage.org/279807uh0/IMG_3806_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279807uh0/)(http://s1.postimage.org/2799nr6ys/IMG_3807_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/2799nr6ys/)(http://s1.postimage.org/279bbajgk/IMG_3809_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279bbajgk/)
(http://s1.postimage.org/279cytvyc/IMG_3810_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279cytvyc/)(http://s1.postimage.org/279emd8g4/IMG_3811_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279emd8g4/)(http://s1.postimage.org/279g9wkxw/IMG_3812_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279g9wkxw/)(http://s1.postimage.org/279hxfxfo/IMG_3813_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279hxfxfo/)
(http://s1.postimage.org/279jkz9xg/IMG_3815_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279jkz9xg/)(http://s1.postimage.org/279l8imf8/IMG_3822_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279l8imf8/)(http://s1.postimage.org/279mw1yx0/IMG_3824_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279mw1yx0/)(http://s1.postimage.org/279ojlbes/IMG_3826_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279ojlbes/)
(http://s1.postimage.org/279q74nwk/IMG_3830_Large.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/279q74nwk/)
Third row second image the handrail for the foot bridge is just visible, and under the road bridge is a pedestrian footpath.
Got to feel for the people who are affected.
Nick
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Nick,
Suppose Tygum is also now also overful.
Probably be able to launch from the roadway
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Yes Tygum is over full, due more to the owner of the property where the drain runs through letting it overgrow, It used to flood at any hint of rain, now it just takes a deluge like we've had since they improved the under road culvert. The water was ah high as the seats of the shelter.
Nick
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Some good random pics from US newspaper
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html
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Look at the brighter side of things ...You'll have no trouble finding water to sail your boats
%) Jimmy
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Good point and its fresh water so no need to clean up to remove any salt O0 O0 O0
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no need to clean up to remove any salt
Just the mud %)
Peter.
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Smile Peter'
, its a New Year
I've got Friends and Relations down there ... as luck would have it they are all OK and no water damage. Though one of my cousins says that she has to go shopping by boat in stead of the "Ute"
Jimmy
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I'm smiling, Jimmy, I'm smiling :D :D but I'm not affected by floods, just thoroughly sick of constant wet weather >>:-( There are many thousands far worse off than me and, having experienced many floods myself over the years, I have the most heartfelt sympathy for those people O0
Peter.
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Plenty of wet weather here too Peter - we've hardly seen the sun for weeks.
Colin
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Well as anticipated, 1974 is here again and Brisbane is battening down the hatches to stop getting wet.
Still it will only last for forty days and nights and then stop O0 O0 O0
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Toowoomba, a city of over 90,000 people 127km west of Brisbane, has been hit by a huge wall of water unlike anything seen in the city before. The TV footage of water raging through low lying areas is unlike anything I've ever seen in Australia. Apparently the torrent hit without warning, washing cars away, many of them with people inside. 8 people including 4 children, are confirmed dead, but 72 more are unaccounted for. I have experienced many floods but, as I said, have never seen anything like this in Australia. I'm sure the footage of this tragedy will appear on TV screens world wide. Some can be seen here http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/01/11/3110273.htm (http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/01/11/3110273.htm)
It comes on top of some of the worst floods in Queensland's history but, worryingly, further rain is predicted. Toowoomba is at an altitude of 700 metres above sea level, and is not a place I have ever associated with severe flooding. My youngest son and his family lived there for 2 and a half years until 2000, and we visited regularly. Ironically, the city is notoriously dry, and dam levels have been so low a pipeline was recently completed to bring extra water to the city. Toowoomba has an annual Carnival of the Flowers, and people participating in the garden competition are usually given permission to use more water than is generally allowed. The full impact of the flooding is still being assessed, but the premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, has warned that the death toll may rise.
More info here http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3109846.htm (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3109846.htm)
Peter.
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Indeed Peter it came without any warning. As you say it is a place that you would think would be the safest in Queensland. However it was just reported that it was a flash flood brought on by a severe thunderstorm. All we need is a low off the coast and we could go under. If it continues like this the Gold Coast will have its first real test as the Merrimac flood plain has been built on and that saved the Coast from any real serious floods before. Also to consider is the Broadwater (Mouth of the Nerang River) has slowly been building up with sand since the dredging stopped some years ago. The Hinze Dam is over 100% so I just went out to get some supplies just in case.
Regards David
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Thinking and praying for you all up north.
The weather forecasters are now saying the rain could reach even Tassie by the middle of next week so we may be sharing in the misery.
Brian in Melbourne
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David,
Could you and our other Northern neighbours/members, please keep us updated to your personal situation. The ABC news service are doing an excellent job on reporting towns that may be affected.
Hang in there David, our thoughts and prayers are with you..........
Martin and the missus
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Hi,
its bad for the people affected, we are not close to the affected areas but have family and friends that are.
The reports are benchmarking the 1974 floods and saying levels may reach those levels, Brisbane River in the CBD is set to reach 5.5 metres, where normal very high tides would reach 1.8 metres. Wivenhoe dam is at 174%, can hold up to 200% for flood mitigation, so they have to release water regardless.
6500 homes will be flooded and a further 15000 will be affected.
We still have 2 months of "wet season" in front of us
Nick
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I am watching this with concern and sadness. You guys and galls over there keep your selves safe...
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People are trapped West of the range and can't get to their homes and to Brisbane as the two crossings, Cunningham's Gap and Toowoomba, are closed due to landslides.
The two towns nearby, Warwick and Toowoomba are also inundated.
This side of the range all low lying areas are flooded cutting access in and out of Brisbane to these areas.
At this rate Brisbane will experience 1974 all over again.
Flood waters in most areas in the suburbs are receding as the rain eases however the high tides, king tide on Thursday, will cause more flooding.
So crunch day is Thursday, two sleeps to go. :-)) :-))
In Brisbane
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My assessment is that the Gold Coast will be safe unless we get a storm or a low off the coast. Woke up this morning to sunshine but unfortunately even if the rain stops in Ipswich and Brisbane the water is already upstream and will make its way through the river systems add that to the necessary water to be let go from the Wivenhoe Dam and the king tide it will cause major flooding. I heard on the radio last night that Brisbane City Council after the 74 floods made some changes to the town planing and building regulations in the flooded areas. It was in regards to building a certain height above the peak of 74 floods but only on new construction and as most of Brisbane's homes are older not much has changed.
Keep dry
David
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Bigfella,
Whilst the intent was there the Council had no stomach to carry it out as usual a political backflip.
A map was produced showing all flooded ares of Brisbane from least to worst effected suburbs.
Because there were loud screams of devaluing properties etc blah blah blah the map disappeared.
Also there was some crazy logic that it was a one in 50 year event and would not occur again if ever for 50 years.
Well hello guess who got it wrong, not that it helps all those who are now in troublewith flood prone houses and experts have been proven right that it could happen again.
Ipswich city is now flooded but peak hasn't been reached.
That flood water, from the Bremmer River which feeds into the Brisbane River is adding to Brisbane's flooding. The flood map produced in 1974 has now resurfaced.
To add insult to injury some towns, Emerald for example which was severely flooded, allowed the construction of residential and commercial buildings on low lying land to cope with the Mining demand for housing etc. hence reason for flooding where there was none previously.
It used to be that the mining companies built the townships and infrastructure but not now, the State and Local authorities (AKA taxpayer) have taken on that risk.
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fingers crossed for you all in the Brisbane area, Laughing and joking aside I hope you get through this ok.
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Recently I read the definition of a 1 in 50, or 1 in 100 year flood. Apparently it does not mean that a big flood is only likely to occur once every 50 or 100 years, but it does mean that there is a 1 in 50 (2%) or 1 in 100 (1%) chance of such a flood occurring...........apparently {:-{
From the scale of the flooding in Queensland I think that this must be a 1 in 1000 year disaster. Nobody has ever seen flooding on such a massive scale, and the cost to Queensland's, and Australia's economy, will be counted in the billions of dollars, to say nothing of the human cost.
Reports coming in from Brisbane say that the CBD is almost a ghost town, with bus services being progressively wound down as the river level rises. Train services are also severely disrupted, and road travel is very restricted in riverside and low lying suburbs. The city of Ipswich, just to the west of Brisbane, is cut in half by water, and many properties are, or soon will be flooded. It is reported that nearly 20,000 homes will be flood affected to some degree, and over 2100 roads are flooded in the Brisbane / Ipswich areas. Over 90 people are now listed as missing, and emergency services are starting to look for survivors who may have escaped the floods, but who have been unable to notify others that they are safe. It is to be hoped they all are, but grave fears are held for their safety.
The floods in south east Queensland have drawn attention away from other parts of the state which are still badly affected by water. The small town of Condamine, about 340km west of Brisbane, is preparing to evacuate for the second time in 10 days, and many other small towns are still isolated. The water is slowly receding in bigger cities such as Rockhampton and Bundaberg, but it will take many days, even weeks, before Rockhampton is clear.
Peter.
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Recently I read the definition of a 1 in 50, or 1 in 100 year flood. Apparently it does not mean that a big flood is only likely to occur once every 50 or 100 years, but it does mean that there is a 1 in 50 (2%) or 1 in 100 (1%) chance of such a flood occurring...........apparently {:-{
Some clarification,
from wiki Similarly, a flood level expected to be equaled or exceeded every 10 years on average is known as a ten-year flood
The 74 floods were classed as 50 year event, not a 1 in 50 event, namely 1974 was expected to be equalled or exceeded every 50 years on average unless mitigated.
The 100 year flood is used as baseline by local Authorities, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100-year_flood
If the 1 in 50 was to be correct then there is no recurring danger as it has only 2% chance of recurring.
The 1 in 50 is measuring percentages whereas a 50 year event is measuring time.
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Just an update on the Brisbane flood. It has been revised that the peak will be 5.2meters which is .2 of a meter less then 1974 floods. Although the height is still catastrophic it will not be as bad as was first indicated. Part of the reason is because all forcasters and governments are to reliant on computer modeling instead of commensense and local knowledge.
Regards David
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That's good news David as every foot counts. :-))
We had some flash flooding down here in Vic and my sheds were inundated with a foot of water. No problems with the model boats as they were floating around but the radios in a cabinet did not fair well (also got into some very old photos) - but that's nothing compared to our Northern Neighbours - looks like an insurance job O0
Martin du
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Martin DU,
Check your policy it seems majority of Insurance companies do not cover water inundation (Flooding) except from the sky???
This means the majority of affected Qld victims are not covered by insurance, hence why the appeal for cash donations to help victims.
About time National legislation was introduced defining meaning of floods, fires, etc so Insurance companies cannot wriggle out of paying policy holders after these disasters <:( <:( >>:-( >>:-( <*< <*<
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The Brisbane River peaked at just over 4.5 metres, 1 metre less than predicted. This has come about because less water was released from the Wivenhoe Dam than was originally thought to be necessary. It seems that this dam, which was built following the 1974 floods, has done what it was designed to do, and that is mitigate the effects of severe flooding on Brisbane. Who knows what would have happened had the dam not been there this time? It allowed the progressive release of excess water into the Brisbane River system, and prevented a huge uncontrolled surge in the river.
Flood affected residents have my sympathy, as I know what it's like cleaning up after such an event. Mud is everywhere, and can be difficult to remove if allowed to dry. We found that the best approach was to be in our butcher shops as the water was receding, and hose the mud out as the water level drops. Unfortunately, many people may not be able to access their premises to start the clean up until the water has gone down, by which time the job is much harder.
The death toll is now officially 13, but with over 40 still missing the final number is not yet known.
Peter.
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a friend in Taz on facebook posted this link earlier, And I am a big enough man to say it brought a tear to my eye.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/ffefe/story-fn7ik2te-1225986720595
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Its quite surreal sitting here in the sun as family and I have had no issues at all , yet not 15 Kms away there is this happening. The massive amount of news coverage that is appearing around the world, concerned family and friends ringing and making contact from Europe is adding to this surreal feeling.
A few pictures,
http://www.abc.net.au/news/photos/2011/01/11/3110791.htm
And boat related
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/amazing-tug-work-saved-day-with-floating-boardwalk-20110113-19ot6.html
It is low lying suburbs and the city centre that are experiencing the flooding
Thought's go out to those who are affected.
Nick
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How are you guys going in northern NSW and Victoria.
When we finish cleaning up we'll probably be down there helping you.
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Doing my little bit over here in the UK,
Heather my other (and better half) runs the cafe in the Alton Community Center, so I have been showing her how to make Lamingtons and Anzac biscuits, these are going on sale in the cafe and all proceeds are getting stuck in a 3 litre whiskey bottle and once a decent amount of cash is in it, will go to the bank and get paid into the Queensland Govs help fund.
Hope those on here that are effected are safe
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Doing my little bit over here in the UK,
Heather my other (and better half) runs the cafe in the Alton Community Center, so I have been showing her how to make Lamingtons and Anzac biscuits, these are going on sale in the cafe and all proceeds are getting stuck in a 3 litre whiskey bottle and once a decent amount of cash is in it, will go to the bank and get paid into the Queensland Govs help fund.
Hope those on here that are affected are safe
Well done LB :-)) O0
It seems that world weather has gone mad. Floods in a large part of eastern Australia, massive floods and mud slides in Brazil, and floods in Sri Lanka; then there's bushfires in south west Western Australia. Crazy %%
Peter.