Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Inland Tsunami


Thought I would start with a rather calming photo since the rest of my post is anything but.  Yesterday Toowoomba the town in which I live was devastated with what is being called an inland tsunami.  Within minutes a wall of water rushed through the central business district and destroyed over 30 businesses and there are now 8 confirmed dead and 72 missing.  That number of missing is rising hourly.  To understand the immensity of this event you need to know that we live 2000 feet above sea level on the top of the Great Dividing Range.  Toowoomba does not flood.  But yesterday over 100mm rain fell in less than 3 hours and what are normally drainage creeks lined with concrete, so more like drains burst there banks and destroyed the inner city.  Cars were thrown down the streets, some with people still inside them.  A furniture store had its front windows pushed out and furniture washed down the street. Danielle who works not far from the CBD watched lounges and tables float down the street.  Cars sirens screaming in the distance.  I watched on the television this morning a family of 3 floating through a paddock waiting for a rescue.  The latest news was that by the time a rescue chopper could reach them they had floated away.  I don't know the outcome.  A road into our area has lifted and it looks like an earthquake has been and gone.  A mum and her son were washed from a traffic island in a major road and both were found dead metres away.  Another mum and her child at the bottom of the range also perished after being swept away in the flood water.  Queensland is expecting more major flooding today and this flooding is the worst in the history of Australia.  Most of Queensland is flooded and when you consider that the entire country of Europe would fit within the Queensland borders you get some idea of the devastation.  All of our family is safe fortunately, but my heart goes out to the people who have lost so much and to those still stranded on roof tops and stuck in cars throughout the area.  Houses have literally been swept away and I wonder just how people will recover from all of this.

7 comments:

  1. Oh no! I've been watching the news out of Australia because I have a ton of co-workers from there. It is devastating. I'm so glad you and your family are okay. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

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  2. I was watching this on the news last night and was just sick, it is just devastating. My prayers for all going through this. I am so glad your family is okay. I HOPE it stops raining. please keep us posted. Kim I am so glad you are all safe, saddens me for all that are not. hugs and much love.

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  3. My heart, thoughts and prayers are with you and the people of Australia. So devastating. xx

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  4. I saw this on telly tonight and instantly thought of you and your family. I hope you are all safe and well and the water has not destroyed your homes. It seems like more that half of QLD is under water now and it doesn't seem to be getting better just worst. Friends of mine live in Ipswich and are packed ready to evacuate tonight.
    There is so much water that even here in Victoria

    It is incredibly hard to comprehend that were have broken a 15 year drought and dams have gone form 15% full to over flowing in less than a month.

    My heart goes out to all those effected knowing that the effects and clean up of this devastation is going to take a long time to fix.

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  5. I've been wondering as you know..so sorry ..:( It must be heartbreaking!

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  6. Oh no. Oh. I am so sorry to hear this. I will be praying for your town and its people. And will check back here for updates.

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  7. oh everyone thank you all so much for your thoughts, wishes and prayers we are all fine, but the flooding is devastating and will take a long time to get over. thanks you again for all your concern

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