Glad you, your family and animals are safe Steve. Just got word 7 people are dead with many more still missing.
Thanks Matt. You've had more than your fair share of rain up there as well! I guess that we're all looking forward to the Easter holidays now. They are later this year so all the rain should be gone by then - shouldn't it?
Unfortunately the number has risen to 8. Steve I'm glad to hear that you, your family and animals are holding up. Fingers crossed that the inclement weather won't postpone repairs to the zoo for to long.
Steve, Anna Bligh is now talking about Warwick being flooded again later today, and you're between Warwick and Toowomba. You sure you're gonna be OK?
We're fine from that point of view. We did flood and bushfire assessments of this land before we bought it. The zoo will never flood in the accepted sense of the word. Path erosion is the only damage we have suffered [other than bank balance malnutrition]. The paths will take some time to repair as all the local quarries are filled with water. We have located some material about 200kms away but the roads in between are cut. Can't win! Warwick is on the Condamine River and will surely flood again today. Our problem with that is the ensuing disruption to our fruit and vegetable supplies. Our suppliers in Warwick cannot get in to Brisbane to the Markets and nor can we. All access roads around the zoo are already well and truly cut by floodwaters, pavement damage or landslides. And the rain is still pouring down. Fortunately we have adequate stocks on hand and are rationing rigidly. There is no telling just when the roads will open again. As I said earlier, there are a lot of people a lot worse off than us. As an example, my grandson's Scoutmaster and the Scoutmaster's house have both disappeared. This whole event is quite surreal - and there's more to come.
We spoke to Bruce from Withcott Scout Groups Wife this morning. She is being overwhelmed with offers of help, and a new House has already been secured as well as furnishings and clothes, once the weather clears they will look at moving in. Its not looking good but we are hoping for Bruce's safe return.
the death toll will rise much higher than that. There are dozens and dozens of people reported missing and most of them are presumed drowned. It is a terrible time for Queensland.
1 death is too many... you are right, the toll will rise higher. The actual number will become evident when the waters recede.
I've heard that there actually are more bodies in the morgues in Toowoomba, but the bodies aren't being included in the count until identified by family. The decommissioned morgue in town has been recommissioned because of the large amount of extra bodies to what the town is used to.
That is probably true. There have certainly been more bodies retrieved than have figured in the official tally so far. There is more tragedy to be publicly revealed yet. Ironically, the weather is perfect today but, even out here, there is an eerie atmosphere. No traffic on the roads at all. Even the birds are quiet!
Not as bad as they were!! In parts the 4WD was bouncing over the gutters eroded into them. Now, although not as perfect as we would normally expect them to be, a wheelchair can traverse them safely.
Glad to hear you blokes are ok.It sounds like most of Ipswich went under but thankfully my mum has remained dry and the neighbours have been saints.The footage they are showing over here looks devastating to say the least.I hope the heavens keep at bay and I don't mind copping your rainfall for awhile till things dry out a bit.Hope things improve. Regards from the UK.
