Flood crisis in Queensland

I sat up late last night following two news stories, one being the worsening flood crisis in Queensland. Premier Anna Bligh held a news conference at 10pm (AEST / 11pm AEDT) last night outlining the issues that Emergency Services (EMQ) were looking at overnight. She outlined the very serious events of the afternoon including the 'inland tsunami' in Toowoomba and how that water was making its way down the Lockyer valley. At that stage, four people had died in Toowoomba and EMQ held grave fears for those in the valley including the town of Grantham. Poor weather was hampering rescue efforts and rescue attempts would resume at first light.

The morning has revealed further devastation. We now know that at least eight people are dead and seventy more are missing with the death toll expected to rise.

Some areas have reported receiving their yearly rainfall in the last week.

Words fail in attempts to describe this disaster. 'Heartbreaking'; 'tragedy'; 'shocking'; 'unprecedented'; 'supernatural' - all have been used in press reports. Personally, I'm in a state of shock. My mind can't quite take it in!

The Toowoomba 'tsunami' comes on the heels of an ongoing flood emergency in Queensland. Some districts have been evacuated twice in the last three weeks. Some have experienced flooding for the second time in twelve months.

I've been surprised by some of the commentary surrounding the flooding though. Some people have said "well, if you live on a flood plain, what do you expect?". Certainly, many of those on the land who have been flooded before are pragmatic about these things. Yet, I feel this is quite a heartless point of view. No-one expects a 'tsunami' in their main street! The latest installment in this disaster illustrates that this is not 'just' about flooding rivers... it is a calamity that is greater than that.

I'm surprised that there has not been more commentary discussing the rains and the link with climate change. This piece by the Independent Media Centre was the only 'reasonable' discussion of the issues I could find. (Though they also quote a press release from the Socialist Alliance!). I'm not at all scientific, but my scientific friends have explained the link between increasing sea temperatures and increased rain. Not to mention the La Nina affecting eastern Australia.

On top of all this, the water has to go somewhere. When it works its way through New South Wales and the Murray-Darling Basin, what will it mean for those downstream? We await to see.

For those who wish to help, donations to the Queensland flood appeal may be made here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html


Related links:

http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=73248 (Transcript of Premier Bligh's press conference 10pm, 10 January 2011)

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3110187.htm (Early reports from Grantham)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/11/3110285.htm (ABC news with the latest, including links to Toowoomba video and other sites)

http://www.abc.net.au/emergency/flood/ (ABC emergency site)

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/01/11/inland-instant-tsunami-devastates-southern-qld/ (Crikey has an outstanding collection of links - including some I have listed below)

http://www.indymedia.org.au/2011/01/06/the-queensland-big-wet-big-flood-and-climate-change (Sensible look at climate change with many serious links).

http://diane-adventurebeforedementia.blogspot.com/2011/01/queenslands-floods.html (summary of flood situation, with amazing photos - especially the snake!)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/jan/03/australia-floods-queensland-map (Awesome map - try the comparison the UK link and the scale of this disaster becomes more apparent!)

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/flash-flood-hits-toowoomba/story-fn7ik2te-1225985113281 (Details of the flash flood in Toowoomba)

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/10/australia.floods/index.html?hpt=T2 (considered reporting from CNN)