12 Dec 2010: Kayaker on the Brisbane River (before the floods)
The above photo I took on a sunny Brisbane day in December, about a week into my visit to Australia, from just outside the State Library of Queensland on the South Bank.
In contrast, this video of kayakers in the flooded West End, not far from where the photo above was taken.
Today’s tweets are, like yesterday’s, mostly retweets of Australian sources on the flooding in Brisbane (& to some extent Queensland at large). While this post is dates January 134, in Brisbane it was January 14, a day during which the Brisbane River peaked at 4:00 AM local time at 4.6 meters, about a meter less than originally feared.
But still bad enough. It will take some time for the floodwaters to subside, and even longer for Brisbane to clean up and recover. And there’s the rest of Queensland to consider as well: there was large-scale flooding in other portions of the state for weeks before it hit Brisbane, and more is going on as I write. Other parts of Australia are also experiencing flooding.
The Queensland Government has launched the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal whereby funds can be donated online to assist families & communities who in some cases have lost everything to the flooding. There’s a number of ways to donate, including online using major credit cards.
- RT @couriermail: BRISBANE’S City Cat service cd be offline for several months as ferry terminals will need rebuilding #bnefloods #qldfloods #
- RT @alydenisof Please RT! Call 1800 219 028 in Oz or donate at http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html to Queensland flood victims #QLDfloods #
- RT @brisbanecityqld: Thanks to all Brisbane residents for outstanding support for each other…Your overwhelming offer of help is amazing. #
- RT @couriermail: No.of ppl emergency services hold grave fears for is down to 9 and no. of missing now at 51 #qldfloods // better news #
- RT @couriermail: CBD dodges bullet – river reloads http://bit.ly/h8HBLP #
- RT @couriermail: Interactive guide to the Brisbane floods http://bit.ly/fEsj3Q #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT @couriermail: New Farm’s floating Riverwalk will be dismantled for public safety, Bris City Council decided. #bnefloods #qldfloods / 🙁 #
- RT @couriermail: BOM: Bris River rises will continue to peak ~5.2m with 4am high tide. Just below ’74 peak of 5.45m #bnefloods #qldfloods #
- RT @QPSmedia: Our thoughts and prayers are with all Queenslanders affected by #qldfloods on this sad night #thebigwet #
- RT @couriermail: No. of those missing in floods revised to 43, with 13 confirmed dead http://ow.ly/3CohF #bnefloods #qldfloods #
- RT: @couriermail: 300m of Riverwalk breaks off http://bit.ly/hLurin // (Was going to be destroyed but broke off before they could.) #
- RT: @couriermail: 300m walkway headed for bridge http://bit.ly/ham8PS #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Gateway Bridge open again. Two large sections of riverwalk passed safely under bridge now floating out to sea. // good news #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Brisbane City Council would like to THANK all volunteers for their efforts with sandbagging over past few days. #
- RT: @couriermail: Riverwalk threat to bridge passes http://bit.ly/eDVeS9 / (Sad to see Riverwalk gone, but glad it went w/out causing harm) #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Brisbane flood situation for City at 1am #qldfloods #thebigwet http://fb.me/IaPFJyRb / (6 AM Alaska time) #
- RT: @couriermail: Flood peak revised down further http://bit.ly/e8qbXy // (May only go to 4.6m, well below 1974 level of 5.45m. good news.) #
- RT: @couriermail: Norman Park, West End, Sinnamon Park evacuated by police tonight #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @couriermail: Emergency services are rushing fresh drinking water to the Lockyer Valley as they run out. #qldfloods #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Water in Brisbane will be peaking over the next hour or so. Please stay safe everyone. // Here’s an Alaskan wishing the same. #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Gateway Bridge is shut again. More debris is heading downriver. It is being closed as a precaution only at this stage. #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Brisbane City Council Media release – flood peak revised down #thebigwet #qldfloods http://fb.me/OFNOS7DZ #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Gateway bridge is once again open. #
- RT: @couriermail: Man swept away by flood at Loganholme – rescued and safe http://bit.ly/gviuI2 #
- RT: @QPSmedia: The Gateway Bridge has closed for the third time tonight, as more significant debris is in the water. #
- RT: @couriermail: Flood peaked at 4.6m, almost metre less than originally feared #brisfloods #qldfloods // Will be @ that level several hrs #
- RT: @couriermail: Broken section of Riverwalk colliding with commercial craft at Doboy Creek, near rivermouth. #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @couriermail: Second part of Riverwalk damming rubbish at Portside on northside of river. #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @couriermail: Weather outlook: isolated showers today and rest of week but no heavy rain in sight. #qldfloods #bnefloods // V good news. #
- RT: @couriermail: Brisbane Airport Corporation confident airport will stay open. Terminals, carparks roads waterfree. #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @couriermail: rt @scottemersonmp Surf lifesavers heading down flooded Oxley Creek to rescue woman from balcony. #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @couriermail: Three cheers to the tugboat team guiding 200metre section of Riverwalk Bridge to the rivermouth. #brisfloods #qldfloods #
- Adventures of Brisbane Riverwalk – section @ “speed roughly equivalent to the speed a CityCat would normally travel” http://bit.ly/dS8y93 #
- RT: @couriermail: Met Bureau says timing of water releases from Wivenhoe Dam kept flood peak below levels forecast. #
- RT: @brisbanecityqld: Morning update on floods, road closures, transport & major related issues as of 5am. http://on.fb.me/eMTyLM Please RT. #
- RT: @couriermail: Lord Mayor Newman inspecting CBD, thankful damage less than expected but city will need to rally. #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @couriermail: Lord Mayor Newman calls on people w/ nonessential work stay home because of strains on road network #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @brisbanetimes: Riverwalk becomes 300m floating missile #qldfloods http://bit.ly/hAPHPc #
- RT: @brisbanetimes: ‘I’ve lost a lot but I’ve kept my life’: Brisbane battles on #qldfloods http://bit.ly/hxFzQQ #
- RT: @brisbanetimes: Man’s body found in submerged Ipswich car #qldfloods http://bit.ly/eaDaur #
- RT: @brisbanetimes: Photos: Brisbane residents watch the floodwaters peak this morning #qldfloods http://bit.ly/hgvHvP #
- RT: @couriermail: AMA president says gastro and mosquitoes next risk from flooding. Doctors flying in from interstate #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @couriermail: Campbell Newman reiterates risks from raw sewage in flood waters. But drinking water is safe. #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT @reuters: Scientists see climate change link to Australian floods http://reut.rs/hvN0LY #
- RT: @brisbanetimes: Some Bris residents may not be able to move back into flood-affected homes for months #qldfloods http://bit.ly/eE9MyT #
- RT: @couriermail: Looting threat makes evacuations tough during #QLDfloods #bnefloods http://ow.ly/3CQbm #
- RT: @couriermail: Brisbane suburbs waking to a war zone http://bit.ly/egdwmT #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Kudos to our water police officers doing a great job shepherding debris down the Brisbane River #thebigwet #qldfloods #
- RT: @brisbanetimes: Tugboat pilots steered 300m section of Riverwalk down Bris River hailed for amazing work #qldfloods http://bit.ly/hAPHPc #
- RT: @couriermail: Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says reconstruction of Queensland will be of postwar proportions. #qldflood #bnefloods #
- RT: @QPSmedia: The death toll rises to 13 after another body located in Lockyear Valley #thebigwet #qldfloods #
- Anna Bligh: “This weather may break our hearts, but it will not break our will.” @qldflood #bnefloods #
- Queensland Premier Anna Bligh lauds “local heroes” throughout Queensland responding to floods. Admirable tough people. @qldflood #bnefloods #
- Anna Bligh: 70 towns & cities across Queensland affected by floods (over past several weeks). #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @lonepinekoala: Thank you everyone for your support. The koalas are safe and so are all of the other animals! #
- RT: @brisbanetimes: Incredible photos of Brisbane in flood today #qldfloods http://bit.ly/gXdSr6 #
- RT: @QPSmedia: A child who went missing earlier in West End has been found, safe and well #qldfloods #thebigwet #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Flood death toll is now 14 after a 24 year-old man was found dead at Durack in Brisbane #QldFloods #TheBigWet in reply to QPSmedia #
- RT: @QPSmedia: It appears “The Island” party boat can be secured. The Moggill ferry is also stable. #QldFloods #TheBigWet // Good news. #
- @lonepinekoala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket reports “The koalas are safe and so are all of the other animals!” #qldfloods #bnefloods #
- RT: @couriermail: Brisbane flood levels dropping http://bit.ly/iaqTC4 #
- RT: @couriermail: Brisbane man killed when sucked into storm water drain http://bit.ly/ftOvDo // (14th flood fatality) #
- RT: @QuestNewspapers: Frontline photographs of flood-affected Indooroopilly and surrounding suburbs http://t.co/ugmfaSx #qldfloods #
- RT: @couriermail: QLD Premier’s Flood Appeal stands at $35.9m. Even Queen chipping in! But need more. Dig deep #qldfloods http://ow.ly/3CUzn #
- RT: @couriermail: Only restaurant open in Queen Street Mall is drawing big crowds of emergency workers and gawkers #bnefloods #qldfloods #
- RT: @QPSmedia: Police rescue man from Logan River #thebigwet #qldfloods http://fb.me/QGCvXU2o #
- RT: @couriermail: Video: Kayak tour of Brisbane’s West End http://ow.ly/3CUIC #bnefloods #qldfloods #
- RT: @brisbanetimes: Clive Palmer private helicopter saves 60 from floods near his horse stud #qld floods http://bit.ly/i2A0AP #
