Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Under Water

Rockhampton certainly has changed in the last few days! We went from being able to drive around on Friday, to having a lot of roads closed on Saturday, to being able to only take a few photos here and there on Sunday, to boating down the main highway on Monday! Oh my!The damage in unbelievable, you really can't imagine the scale unless you see it for yourself. This is what our entrance into Rocky from the south usually looks like -This was it yesterday -Our local hockey grounds are almost totally underwater (just a five minute walk from my place)!The showgrounds are filling up with cattle and horses that have been saved. One cow was lucky enough to be washed up onto someones front lawn instead of being washed down the river into the ocean to inevitably drown.Snake handlers are being called every five minutes by Police and SES workers to come and remove a snake or two from homes, not to mention the countless snakes that are just being killed, including harmless pythons.RSPCA ambulance volunteers are run off their feet trying to find places for the countless animals they're rescuing.We are almost at the same level as the 1991 floods, which took the life of a friends son.The piles of sandbags have reached into the 1000's of tons!When the waters die down, and the cleanup starts, the amount of things having to be thrown out will reach into the millions.Yet through it all, we still manage to laugh, and band together, knowing that it could be worse.All we can do is look at the overcast, stormy sky and pray it won't rain.

12 comments:

Chookyblue...... said...

stay high and dry.......

Sue said...

Look out for yourself and take care. It's amazing when you think the area affected is greater than France and Germany combined. I too worry about the animals, stock, pets and wild creatures, including the snakes.

CurlyPops said...

Take Care Amanda - thinking of you guys up there!

Joy said...

Oh Manda love, I wondered how you were doing up there ... it's truly heartbreaking to see the damage the floods are doing. Stay safe dear one!!!
Hugs,
Joy ;o)

BubzRugz said...

Will be thinking of you and all of Rocky tommorrow - peak day...
Hugz

Maria said...

Thinking of you all.I just feel so helpless seeing what is happening there.
My BIL and Family live in Rocky too.

Jo in TAS said...

The pictures are amazing. I watched the news this morning and the entrance to Rockhampton showed the water now covers the word Rockhampton. I can't imagine the clean up afterwards, it would be so heartbreaking. Fingers crossed no more rain until this all clears.
Hugs
Jo

RG said...

Oh Manda, phew!
Your pics really do 'show' some of what is going on.
Will keep you in my prayers and the many many others that are being affected.
I love that even though there is so much devastation, people can still maintain their sense of humour.
That's what we Aussies are best at...that and helping when the chips are down. xx

Vanessa said...

Take care and be careful out there!

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you Manda in these wet times. Hope you are staying high and dry....

Anonymous said...

Crazy weather! Hope you are all well and safe. The picture you have of the wallaby on the hay... my friend from Dalby took that while out in his boat surveying the damage! It's become a very well known photo around the world!!

Khris said...

Scary stuff going on up there for you guys....devastating for all affected...my thoughts are with you and everybody in these wet areas.
Hugs Khris