The Queensland Floods. (Updated Victorian Floods)

The past week in Australia has been a tough one.  For those of you who don't know, the state of Queensland is experiencing shocking floods.  75% of the state has been declared a disaster zone.  An area the size of France and Germany combined is under water and the floods are no where near over.  Town after town inundated.  An inland tsunami, an 8m wall of water, bore down on a valley with no warning and the death toll is climbing.  The state capital, and third largest city in the country, Brisbane, is being consumed by the unrelenting waters.  Pictures and stories out of the area are heartbreaking.  Families swept away.  The young 13 year old boy who told rescuers to take his younger brother first and lost his life in the process.  So many people still missing.  I'm lucky I can turn off the TV or flick over to something fluffy.  The people in those areas can't and will be living the nightmare for months to come.

Australia is a large country but we have a small population.  Most people have family or friends affected by this disaster.  We are lucky.  We have family in both Brisbane and country QLD, but they are safe.  My in laws are cut off.  Their town can only be reached by air and basic supplies are running out.  Mind you my FILs wine order came through on a plane.  There may be no bread, or milk, or petrol, but at least he has the essentials.  Sometimes you have to focus on the little absurdities and laugh, or the whole situation becomes overwhelming.

Ironically, on the other side of the country in Western Australia, they are battling bush fires.  Here in the far south of the country we are having unusual tropical humidity (the coating on my tablets actually melted off with the moisture in the air).  We are a country of extremes. 

If you can help in any way there are relief funds set up.  If you are unable to donate cash, say a little prayer for those who have lost loved ones and homes, and the emergency personal and volunteers who risked their lives at the height of the crisis and will continue to help others as the floods spread.  It's important to realise that after weeks of flooding, there are still towns bracing for the floods to hit.  In those areas where the waters are finally receding and the clean up begins, water born and mosquito born diseases are a real risk.

The official fund for donations can be found here:
Premiers Flood Relief Appeal


If you want to donate to help out the animals affected by the crisis you can donate to the QLD RSPCA here:
RSPCA

Etsy Appeal

The flash flood that swept through Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley.


Here's a link to some pictures of Brisbane's flood.  And a link to Grantham, one of the worst hit areas by the flash flood.

(Update:  Queenslanders are slowly cleaning up but many towns are still under threat.  Unfortunately, the flood situation is not confined to Queensland, with my home state of Victoria now 1/3 under water.  In fact, five states have experienced floods in the past week.

In the past week my family here is Victoria have bee affected by flood waters.  Whilst I am safe, many friends and family in the area I grew up in are still under threat.  Some areas are experiencing one in 200yr flood events.  Overall, this has been the country's worst natural disaster and is far from over.  Many thanks to everyone for thier thoughts and prayers over the past week).

My thoughts are with all those affected by the floods.
Michelle