Spugsy

I walked round a little lake in Cairns some time back and literally almost bumped into a croc.

Proper bricked it like. Was 20 feet away from me looking like it was Spugsy for brekkie.

Kim67

We also get Salties inland in our river systems here in Australia.

BC I think we're a bit too far south for any crocs, even in Gladstone and Rockhampton. There are bull sharks in the Brisbane River and at the moment, they will be in the flood waters. There are also snakes being washed out of their shelters. Lots of lots of dead animals, quite a few dead people, houses, boats, pontoons, restaurants, walkways, you name it is being tossed around under the surface of our currently flooded river. The hazards are everywhere. My suburb is half flooded but fortunately we're on high ground. Heaps of friends have houses in the flooded areas and some have families in the worst hit areas out West. The beginning of the week was an absolute shocker for us here in SE Queensland, but everything is calming down now. Let's hope the rain stays away and gives our state a chance to get back on it's feet quickly.

Blue Cat

nope not planning on visiting, was just abit worried about the animal life, and I think Kim67 is there

Blue Cat

was thinking of you this morning, glad you are all safe x

Kim67

Yep, am here BC, and still have power to stay on BE fortunately (half my suburb was blacked out this morning). The animals have been hit hard and our main RSPCA centre is under water. They won't receive any government assistance to get back on their feet so have opened up a donation line for anyone wanting to donate. I've applied to foster some animals but haven't heard back whether they have enough foster families now. An old guy rescued some prize breeding stallions and mares from flood water today and the poor things were very badly cut from the debris in the water.

Blue Cat

I watched it on Sky this morning, pure devastation, the world and it's weather has gone proper crazy!

Kim67

In Australia we are affected by El Nino and La Nina weather so we have cycles of normal weather as well as cycles of extreme drought and extreme flooding. This happens to be one of the worst cycles for 35 years and in some respects the worst in recorded history.

Blue Cat

the recovery is going to take months if not years, I can't start to think how those who have lost their homes must be feeling

Kim67

The cleanup out West (where the inland tsunami hit) will take years but here in Brisbane, once the flood water recedes, people will clean up their businesses and their houses and it will be quite speedy. There are a few things that will obviously take a lot of time - one of Brisbane's main forms of public transport are our ferries and citycats. Most of the stations have been destroyed so will have to be rebuilt. Our main fruit and veg markets and regions that grow them have been destroyed so fruit and veg will be expensive and not very plentiful.

Blue Cat

are the Government being supportive with funding?

Ethos83

It is true, isn't it?

At any natural or civil disaster, the first thought that comes to an English person is "oh god I hope the animals are all right."

The Dean

Don't worry - I saw Prime Minister Gillard on the news, and she was totally reassuring............. clearly, she is a woman with a reputation for getting things done and sorting out problems...........

Kim67

Every flood affected person will receive an immediate payment of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child to help with costs while away from their homes. They have Centrelink staff at all flood shelters registering people and getting their payments sorted asap. The Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and the Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman has been remarkably informative, composed and supportive through the whole ordeal.

Kim67

She did get up here straight away and got more army reinforcement and helicopters very quickly.

Sherlock Holmes

Yep, they can't lend any money at the moment.

Snakes am the real problem and spiders who want more than ever to come in doors to keep dry. Really.