Dearest Friends & Family,
Most of you have probably seen Brisbane splashed across the news and headlines of the world. Our state is in the midst of a major crisis, comparable to its last great flood of 1974. Firstly, Craig and I are both fine. We fortunately live on the south side of Brisbane and we're some distance from the Brisbane river and any of its creeks/tributaries. While we're well removed from the critical areas, it's impossible to ignore the tension that's come over our city.
It started on Tuesday with the devastating flash floods that caught Toowoomba unaware. So far, 12 have been found dead and amongst the casualties, are infants & children. There are still many people unaccounted for and the number keeps changing. Sometimes it's in the 50s. Other times, it's in the 90s.
By Wednesday, it was clear that the flood waters were heading towards Brisbane. Wivenhoe Dam's capacity was up to 174% and the water couldn't be kept at bay. Better to release it in a controlled fashion than the alternative: an uninhibited wall of water that would wreck complete havoc on the city. Despite the controlled releases at Wivenhoe, the dam doesn't stop filling. Last night, it got as high as 190%. As for all those controlled releases, there's only one place it can go... the Brisbane River.
Craig, along with many of his colleagues and hundreds of Brisbane workers had to leave the CBD (City Business District) during lunchtime as the threat of flooding drew closer. At that time, the river was supposed to be at low tide: it looked anything but... As the water levels rose, businesses were shutting down before the city effectively became dissected by the rising waters. Once the waters rose, roads would be closed off and you would be stranded on either the north or south side. So people were getting out while they still could. In the midst of this evacuation, thousands upon thousands of people were trying to save what possessions they could. All the while, the threat of the rising waters continued.
Craig made it home safely and planned to work from home. Then we heard the news that they were cutting the electricity to the CBD and the surrounding suburbs. You see cities brought to a standstill in epic movies or action films but to witness it happening in real life, is another thing entirely.
Today, I made my way to work at Greenslopes. The hospital is also located on the south side so I didn't have to worry about any flooding. Some of my colleagues however, were not so lucky. Many of their usual routes were blocked by rising flood waters. About 1/3 of our staff were stranded on the north side and told to stay at home, while we managed with a skeleton staff. At present, our hospital is relatively safe from the flood waters. Other hospitals were not so lucky. The Mater and the Wesley were two such hospitals that were facing the prospect of becoming suburban islands. While both hospitals were situated on high ground, their surrounding roads coming in & out could possibly be flooded out. For the time being, both these hospitals are open. Hospitals on the north side were operating on code brown: External Emergency. Our waiting rooms have been relatively quiet. If the staff and patients aren't glued to the television, watching the tragedy unfold, they're listening to the radio or checking the net for updates.
Outside of work, there's further evidence of the panic that's beginning to grip Brisbane. Super market shelves are bare of essentials such as toilet paper, bottled water, milk & bread. People are stock piling for the uncertain days ahead. There's also been word of looters trying to make the most of a dreadful situation. Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale had only one thing to say about it: “If I find anybody looting in our city they will be used as flood markers."
Despite the grim outlook, Brisbane as a community is coming together. Sonographers have come in on their day off, to cover colleagues who weren't able to make it across the river. In amongst the terrible images, are also scenes of neighbours helping each other out, people volunteering at the emergency centres, teenagers rescuing younger kids. Even the premier, Anna Bligh, and the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman, have been pretty amazing. I don't think anyone wants to be in their shoes right now. But both have been sincere and you can tell they're as devastated by what's happening to Queensland & Brisbane, as the rest of us.
Tomorrow at 4am, the Brisbane River is expected to peak at 5.2m due to a King Tide. That's when the worst of the damage is going to occur. Until then, the city can only wait and support each other as best it can. The most important thing, is that no more lives are lost.
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