Its not getting much play here but in Queensland, Australia there is currently a disaster of HUGE proporations unfolding.
Floods the size of the countries, Germany AND France combined are wrecking havoc on the towns and rural areas of Queensland.
200,000 people have been affected with thousands now homeless.
The town of Emerald is 80 percent underwater. Food drops are being planned after the entire town was evacuated.
The weather bureau says Emerald and Rockhampton could face the worst flooding in 30 years over the weekend, while the now-deserted town of Theodore is set to be inundated again and all residents have been flown out of the Darling Downs town of Condamine.
The damage bill in Bundaberg, where the flooded Burnett River is now receding, is put at tens of millions of dollars.
http://www.abc.net.au/...
Supermarkets in Rockhampton have run out of essentials and efforts are under way to truck in more food before roads are cut.
Flood waters are expected to sever road and rail links to the central Queensland city as early as tomorrow, and the airport is also expected to be shut down this weekend.
The Fitzroy River is expected to reach the 9m-mark by Sunday, a level that would see 200 homes inundated and 4000 parcels of land affected by flooding.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/...
For any Kossacks affected by the floods:
• Bureau of Meteorology website for up to date weather information, including up-coming forecasts;
• The Traffic and Travel information line on 13 19 40 or http://131940.qld.gov.au
• RACQ road closure site on 1300 130 595 or http://www.racq.com.au/...
• For more information about flood and cyclone preparation and emergency kits can be found at www.disaster.qld.gov.au;
• Monitor local councils and local radio stations for local information and updates.
When you hear a flood warning
• Listen to your local radio station for severe storm advice and warnings;
• Plan to move vehicles, outdoor equipment, garbage, chemicals and poisons to higher locations;
• Plan which indoor items you will raise or empty if water threatens your home (e.g. freezers and refrigerators); and
• Check your emergency kit and safeguard your pets.
What to do if you need to evacuate
• Pack warm clothing, essential medications, valuables, personal papers, mobile phone, photos and mementos in waterproof bags to be taken with your emergency kit;
• Raise furniture, clothing and valuables on to beds, tables and into roof spaces;
• Empty freezers and refrigerators, leaving doors open;
• Turn off power, water and gas;
• Whether you leave or stay, put sandbags in the toilet bowl and over all laundry/bathroom drain holes to prevent sewage back-flow;
• Lock your home and take recommended evacuation routes for your area; and
• Don’t drive in water of unknown depth and current.
The good news so far is that there have been no deaths that I am aware of. The bad news is that more rain is expected and this disaster is a long long way from being over.
Link to live radio in Queensland, live updates
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/...