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Has anyone been blown away by Oswald?

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Some very sad footage on the telly this morning. Good luck to those in NSW that are now or about to cop it.

We've sustained a little damage to fences from fallen tree branches (the ones belonging to the neighbours that we've suggested were a problem before), but otherwise safe and sound, so much luckier than some. Our neighbour lost half his jacaranda tree, but it was considerate enough to land between his two boats On a sad note for me, but to my kids' delight, their school has sustained some damage so they get an extra day of hols
 

My main pre-requisite for choosing a place to live also, Dock. Ãou'll never find me wanting to be rescued from a flooded house. I just won't live in a flood-plain.

Lost power for over two days and phone for a bit, just had first hot shower since Friday... phew that smells better.

Bundaberg has helicopters flying overhead evacuating people from roof tops all day. I never thought I'd see that in Bundy, but it has risen above the 1942 flood levels and approaching the late 1800 big flood.

Picture earlier today from the southern end of the new Tallon Bridge looking north. Never thought I'd see it go under water.
 

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I have friends in Kenmore who lost power early this morning and are unsure when it will be restored.

I also have a mate on the southern Gold Coast whose neighbour lost their roof. Unfortunately the roof took the power pole with it, so my mate hasn't any power and it appears it will be days before it is restored.

Apart from flooding/potential flooding, the damage from the high winds and uprooted trees all over SE Qld is massive.
Anyone in Newcastle/Sydney region who hasn't experienced the high winds yet, be prepared. Batten down anything loose on the house and yard. Even B-B-Q s have been sent flying.
 
This is awful.

Thinking of you all and hoping you are all safe.
 
What a heartbreak for those who have not long completed repairs after the last flood, and now seeing it happen again. One report I heard said some of these people have not yet extended their insurance to cover the improvements.

Others have lost everything. I know we always say "hell, why aren't they properly insured?" But I guess some people's financial situation is so precarious that they take the chance.

Hope the power is back on before too long for the hundreds of thousands who have now been without it for a couple of days. Must be so difficult.

Awful, too, for seriously ill patients in Bundaberg Hospital having to be evacuated out to Brisbane. Bad enough to be seriously ill without the added stress of that. Must be very stressful for the staff also.

I really admire the stoicism from many of the people who have been devastated by this event, and the largely efficient way emergency services have swung into action.
Should the army have been brought in to help, perhaps, earlier?
 

Indeed - this is something that was raised in my household last night, while watching coverage of the poor sods being winched off rooftops etc. One of my kids said "if we're not fighting a war, what else do all the soldiers based at Amberley and Enoggera have to do?" While this is a total oversimplification - there is a nugget of truth to it.

Looks like Newman is going to get a drilling over whether releasing the water from Wivenhoe over the weekend excaberated the problems or not. Pardon the pun, but imo it's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't. Some people fail to grasp that forecasting Mother Nature is not an exact science - she's prone to changing her mind.

I'm very impressed with Ipswich's mayor - he comes across as being totally dedicated to his city. It must be heartwrenching to see so much damage so soon after the last flooding. The people of Ipswich seem to be a very cohesive and stalwart bunch - good luck to them.
 
"Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink."


Luckily, these days, many householders in Brisbane have water tanks.

DocK
Looks like Newman is going to get a drilling over whether releasing the water from Wivenhoe over the weekend excaberated the problems or not
Click to expand...

Laying the groundwork for more lawsuits.
 

One of the most reliable reporters on Brisbane floods is Hedley Thomas. This is part of his report in Tuesday's Australian-

"Premier Campbell Newman yesterday confirmed what the data shows: the floodwaters to hit Ipswich and Brisbane are coming from four sources.

The Bremer River, the Brisbane River and the Lockyer Creek are in natural flood, unaffected by the minor releases from Wivenhoe Dam that started on Friday and ended late on Sunday.

The fourth source is the creek system. Unlike the 2011 crisis when dozens of local creeks in Brisbane experienced only moderate flood, these creeks in 2013 have flash-flooded and are making a much greater contribution to the flow in the Brisbane River.

"The dams are doing what they are meant to do. They have plenty of storage capacity. The dam releases in the scheme of things have been very modest. They were done to give us that extra bit of buffer," Mr Newman said.

The capacity of Wivenhoe and the smaller Somerset Dam to store heavy follow-up rains, even though they are not forecast, is the other major factor distinguishing 2013 from 2011."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...ld-of-difference/story-e6frgd0x-1226563793967

Notwithstanding some TV reports showing distressed flood victims blaming dam releases again for flooding, the reality is different.The modest dam releases were stopped on Sunday night, before the Bremer River and Lockyer Creek entered the Brisbane River.

As Hedley says the 2 flood situations are vastly different.

PS. I believe the 2011 dam releases were too late and caused most of the flooding.
 
PS. I believe the 2011 dam releases were too late and caused most of the flooding
Click to expand...
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I agree with you. I live in the headwaters of the Stanley River which flows into Somerset and Wivenhoe, and when it was bucketing down here in 2011, I couldnt comprehend that they still hadn't opened the floodgates.
We had 675 mls in this episode, mostly horizontal rain and have only just got power back overnight after 3 days without. Fortunately doesnt seem much major structural damage anywhere, apart from a bit of crop losses.
Awful what is happening in Bundaberg.
 
So good to see the army roll in to Bundaberg today with their heavy equipment to get on with the clean up.
It seems to have taken too long, but I suppose they have had to wait for the water to recede to actually be able to do anything.

Such a contrast on "7.30" with the bands of local people, including some really small kids, only about ten years old, all pitching in with their shovels.

Many of these SES and other volunteers have been working non stop to help others, knowing their own homes were ruined. Just great community spirit and courage.
 

Our thoughts in the North are with our fellow Queensland and NSW residents suffering because of Oswald.

Usually we are in strife at this time of year.

Stay safe and well and help each other.

gg
 
Another plight I omitted from the post above was a woman phoning ABC Radio in tears of frustration because she had lost everything, including all her ID, and was having the utmost difficulty in accessing any assistance.
She was, I think, in some small centre. Her helplessness was heartbreaking, and I suppose there will be many in a similar position.
 
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