The Savvy Boomer

Australian flood mess and photos

Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:05:22 +1000
Subject: Update from Ken and Marlene

I don't know if this went out yesterday or not, so here goes again just in case

 

Wednesday 12th

 

Hi all

 

We expected the worst with all the predictions that the river was going to remain at the same level for up to 10 days, but fortunately they got it wrong :)

We woke up this morning and the back yard was just one big mud bath. The front still has water flowing through but presume by tomorrow that will be gone as well.

It's amazing how quickly it has dropped, but now we see the realisation of our worst fears, the extent of the damage.

Marlene has worked tirelessly since we arrived here getting a nice lawn and nice gardens and we now have no lawn and 90% of her plants are dead. Most of the palms seem to have survived so we do have a few spatterings of green, but that's it.

 

The mud is unbelieveble, it's everywhere and so thick. Did my back in again today trying to shovel mud into the wheel barrow, so I ended up on light duties of operating the Karcher (high pressure water cleaner). My workshop is a mess and so is Sean and Tarms flat downstairs. It's going to take ages to clean out all the mud, effluent and dirty water before we can even think about repairs and renovations. The stench, heat and humidity is unbearable at the moment and the moquitos and insects are eating us alive. We've been advised to splash some kerosene all over the mud and watery bits as if forms a barrier and stops them all breeding in the mud until it dries out.

 

Have attached some more photos of the new foal and some of our chores today.

Now that the water has subsided and it's below the legal limit of 4metres clearance between the water and the supply cables, we've been trying to get the electricity turned back on. They won't turn it on until an approved electrician has checked every house on our grid and certified them as safe by filling in Form A and submitting it in triplicate. We've found out that there are 8 houses this side of the freeway on our grid which spread over quite a few kms. Trouble is, we can't get a sparky to come out until next week, so we are stuck untill then before we can get any power.

 

After watching the news over the past two days, we realise just how lucky we have been and how good we've had it so far. Seeing all the flash flooding going on further south and what they've got comming over the next few days is frightening. At last count there were 12 people confirmed dead from yesterday's flash floods and I think 59 still unaccounted for and still not been found. Brisbane is due to peak tomorrow and that's expected to be huge.

 

Just checked the QLD web site as I didn't know how many sq kms it is:

"Queensland is a large state consisting of 1.7 million square kilometers in area" and as of yesterday, 75% of Queensland was flooded. That's bigger than a lot of overseas countries, that is just incredible.

 

Anyway, we are all doing well and coping with the situation, but not looking forward to the tasks ahead.

BTW, my toe is slowly getting back to a normal and just gotta be very careful with it.

 

Regards and luv to all

Ken and Marlene

 

Update from Rockhampton Australia

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:30:07 +1000
Subject: Update from Ken and Marlene

Really good news today :)

 

All the anticipated floods up north over the past few days never eventuated so that's less water to come down.

The water levels remaining at the same level here for the next 10 days as predicted isn't happening.

We've dropped nearly 300mm by sunset tonight so it's all looking really good.

The water level in our yard is down to around knee height (400mm) already so we're hoping by the end of the week, it'll be down enough to get an electrician in to check and clear all our properties so that they can turn the electricity back on. We can hopefully then get on with the big clean up with the Karcher (high pressure washer) and start drying everything out so we can assess the damage.

The stench is getting worse by the day and hate to think what it's going to be like when the water finally drains out of the area and we're left with the muddy swamp, more mosquitos and insects. Hopefully all the snakes will away away ASAP and leave us alone.

 

We've all put up with the flood, the water, the smell and the inconvenience with no problems, it's the lack of electricity which has been the biggest hastle and frustration, for me especially, as there's not much I can do. I have so much work to do and it's driving me up the wall that I can't get on with anything.

Knowing that Tarm can get across to the main road by boat, her employer has lent her a car to get into Rocky each day, so Sean and Tarm are back at work and keeping occupied all day.

 

Double wammy good news: One of the horses we've been feeding up at the pump station had a foal last night and both are doing well today.

Sean and Tarm's smallest dog Holly managed to escape and go for a swim without anyone seeing her. We're just so lucky that Dan was on his way home in the boat and saw her struggling against the current out the front of our place, grabbed her and bought her back in. She is so lucky as she would have been another statistic like Buddy. We now call her Houdini as she manages to escape all the time. Hopefully she's learnt't her lesson.

 

I see south of us has had major flash floods today with cars being washed down through the streets like fishing floats, unbelievable.

That's it for today and it's all good news from this part of the world

 

Regards and luv to all

Ken and Marlene

Taking a break in Yaamba Australia

The last few days of posts from our cousins in the flood ravaged Rockhampton area of Australia have shown how the people who have stayed behind in their homes have fought to keep their property intact and keep both themselves and their animals alive.  Today's email has an undertone of the true Aussie spirit coming through.  These pictures of "the surviviors" sitting in their lawn chairs in the flood water drinking their "tinnies" made me laugh.  This line pretty much sums up their experience:

"Mind you, we did have the foresight to get off our backsides, do something to try and protect the place and anticipate as many problems as we possibly could and so far I reckon we've done pretty well."

 

 

Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 3:42 AM

Subject: Update from Ken and Marlene

Sunday 9th.

Water dropped a bit overnight and has been steadily dropping quite quickly today. We're now down 170mm from the peak and we're all very happy chappies :)

The girls went into Rocky yesterday to do some shopping and although they couldn't get everything we wanted, they managed to get the essentials.

We also got fuel for the generator so good news all round.

 

Did the usual feed the animals first thing today then decided to have some fun and take some photos of the last remaining 7 people, still in their own 3 homes,  "The Survivors of the Yaamba 2011 Floods". We had some good fun and time out before heading back to the house to get on with the other chores etc. Kurt's house up near the pump station is on higher ground than ours so the water is shallower there and safe enough for some fun and games.

 

Still keeping the downstairs water/effluent level down with the aid of the submersible pumps, it maxes at about 50mm overnight now :)

 

More Q&A:

No we are not connected to mains water and sewerage. We have our own 25,000 gallon rain water tank which is still overflowing from all the rain. We have a septic tank for the sewerage but that is a problem. Although we filled the downstairs toilet with sand bags and I later tried to silicone a plastic seal on the toilet, it is still leaking in and stinks.

Fortunately we installed a solar hot water system last year so hot water is no problem, BUT, we need electricity to pump the water. We have our routines, Sean and Tarm shower in the evening and Marlene and I shower in the morning when the gene is running so no problems with hygene. I anticipated the sewerage might be a problem and block the upstairs toilets due to water rising up, so cut the down pipe, fitted a T piece with a screw on cap so that if it blocked and came up too high, I could just unscrew the cap and let it drain out into the river. Not a pleasant thought, but no other options and the river is full of effluent from all the other towns anyway. Only had to do it twice so far and it's working well.

When we first came here, I re-routed all the grey water from the sinks and showers etc out to water the gardens, so it's still doing that. Marlene did a big wash today and we just hang the washing machine outlet pipe out the upstairs window into the river.

 

We're coping very well with everything we've had to do and adjust to and are probably much better off than a lot of other flood victims.

Mind you, we did have the foresight to get off our backsides, do something to try and protect the place and anticipate as many problems as we possibly could and so far I reckon we've done pretty well.

 

Dan and his boat have been a god send and made everything much more bearable. Without him, the animals would be starving and we'd be doing it really tough dealing with the total isolation and no way in or out, We're doing up a photo montage in a frame and plague to present to him in a few days time and when things have settled down, we'll take him out for the best meal in town.

 

Till the next update

 

Regards and luv to all

Ken, Marlene, Sean and Tarm

Latest Australia flood update

Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2011 4:09 AM

Subject: Update from Ken and Malene

Saturday 8th

 

Hi all

 

Thanks for all the emails and feedback and I'll keep sending out updates as long as I've got something to report and time enough with power from the generator.

Toooooooo many emails to answer individually, so I'll include some answers in the updates.

 

Water level still the same and has only dropped 50mm since the peak.

 

No we're not in Rockhampton: Yaamba is a small rural village about 30kms out of Rockhampton and we're much worse off than Rocky. They have roughly the same water depth as us (700mm), but they can still walk up one of the roads or around the block to dry land. Our only road in/out is still at least 3mts under water and we're roughly 2 to 3 kms to that nearest bit of dry land, so the only way in or out is by boat with Dan our neighbour, who has been unbelievable in helping everyone with getting provisions in. He's our local hero and it's probably because of him that we managed to persuade the SES to leave us be and not evacuate us. Mind you, he does enjoy his reward up the pub while waiting for us to do whatever we need to do. If you look for 17 Auckland Street, Yaamba, Qld on Google earth, you'll see our house in the dry and how small the Fitzroy River normally is. You'll also see a whole network of roads. They're not there anymore and haven't been for many many years. When the Yaamba Pump House was the main water supply for Rockhampton, there were apparantly about 30 houses in the village. Not any more, there are only 6 houses this side of the Bruce Highway and only one road. When you see our house, the water starts at the pub and highway and goes out past us for about another 5kms.

 

Getting supplies: Dan boats us up to the pub where a friend takes the girls into town. Trouble is, as the main roads, rail and airport into Rocky are all flooded, no supplies are getting through to Rocky. They are now re-routing everthing up north and then bringing it down. Petrol and food started arriving in Rocky today. We're okay for food as we had stocked up for a few weeks. Petrol for the generator is our only worry at the moment. We're down to 5lts for the morning so desperately need petrol tomorrrow. We believe our local has received fuel so we should be okay. On the news tonight, it said that Marlborough (70kms north) was due to peak again and may be flooded, which means the road will be blocked and we'll get all that water in a few days as well.

 

Awesome sight this morning. Boated down to the high ground where all our cars are and where we herded all the chickens, guinea fowl, peackocks, horses and cattle to. They heard and saw us comming down and by the time we got there with some food, there they all were lined up along the bank with their chicks, calves and babies making a hellava racket. Had bread, carrots and bird food and did they have a ball. I've got it all on video and when we've got power again, I'll edit up a short doco and post it all on YouTube. All our peacocks and chicks have survived. We have 7 peacocks and 2 more chicks that are now about 6 weeks old.

 

That's it for now as UPS is beeping madly. I'll answer more questions again tomorrow and will eventually replay to your the individual emails.

 

Regards and luv to all

Ken and Marlene

Harsh realities in Rockhampton Australia

I've been posting emails from our cousins in Rockhampton the past week which reveal the real experiences of living and coping in this disaster zone.  Overflowing sceptic tanks, trying to keep animals alive, poisonous snakes, sweltering heat and humidity with no air con, being unable to maintain an income, injuries, and boats as your only means of transportation and receiving supplies.  And it's not close to being over!  As Ken says in today's email, "You never here about this side of things on the TV or newspapers."

 

Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2011 22:31:38 +1000
Subject: Update from Ken and Marlene

Hi all

 

My back is improving and the toe is bearable with pain killers. The split is healing nicely so hopefully I'll be back in the water doing maintenance again by tomorrow.

 

Not much to report today.

Woke to pouring rain again and there has been major storms and lightning to the north of us most of the afternoon. The thunder and lightning was spectacular to say the least.

 

Still enjoying the million dollar water views in the morning over breakfast and the barbies in the evening watching the sun set over the water, it's absolutey awesome and something that can't be put into words

BUT

The realisation and frustration is slowly starting to set in as we get all the latest weather reports and river predictions.

The water level has still only dropped 50mm from it's peak and they're still saying it won't drop any further for at least 10 days. That means it'll probably be another 2 to 3 weeks before it's low enough to turn our electricity back on and for us to start cleaning up downstairs and assessing the damage.

 

Snakes are becoming more of a problem every day. Taipans and King Browns are stranded on the fences and trees and are always a danger when walking through the water. For our overseas friends and relatives, both are deadly poisonous. Everytime Dan comes through the gate in his boat, there's one particular Taipan that drops into the water and tries to get into the back of the boat.

 

Other than the daily charging and cleaning duties when the gene is running, there's not much we can do. I've been cleaning and re-arranging my office/studio and servicing the equipment, but I'm now starting to get extremely frustrated. I have not been able to do any work for a few weeks now and although most of my customers know the situation and understand, it's driving me up the wall that I haven't been able to work and deliver the goods, that's just me.

As most of you know, I can't sit and do nothing, I have to be proactive and producing every day to be happy.

Time to get the TV crews in now for my big sob story :)

I haven't been able to earn any money for a while now and it's probably going to be at least another month or so before I can get productive and start earning again.

Just hope I don't loose too many customers in the meantime.

Unfortunately, the next couple of weeks are going to be very trying on all of us, but that's life and we'll deal with it.

 

A big dissappointment for all of us, is Tracy, my sister's daughter from South Africa. She's been doing some work in Korea and has come over to see Oz for her Xmas holidays and to spend some time with us, but she can't get up up here as all the roads in, rail and airport are closed. The only time we've ever seen her was on our visit to South Africa 10 years ago when she was only sixteen. She's now a young lady of 26 and we were so looking forward to seeing her and spending time with her. She'll just have to come back next year to catch up with us :)

 

The heat and humidity is starting to get unbearable. We can put up with it during the day, but the nights are becoming a problem. As we can't run the airconditioners, the place heats up all day and stays that way all night. Battery operated fans are helping a bit, but not much.

Bugs, insects and mosquitos are unbearable day and night.

 

Another problem we never anticipated or even dreamt of was the pets. Sean and Tarm (our son and his wife) have 3 dogs and they won't pee or poop anywhere up on the deck. We've boated in some sand and made them a sand pit on the landing half way down the stairs, but they just wouldn't go. Dan, our trusty boatman has been taking Sean and the dogs up to the pub and dry land every morning to do their business and they then continue to hold it in till the following morning. They're amazing and have been no hassle.

 

So as we settle into the waiting and dry out stage,  we anticipate a few boredom and frustration problems and we've discussed these and will deal with them as they crop up.

Hopefully we can happily deal with the next wave of trying times.

You never hear about this side of things on the TV or newspapers.

 

I may not email again tomorrow unless we've actually got something to report, good or bad.

Must admit, I do feel a lot happier now after putting my thoughts down on paper, well an email is as good as writting it on paper isn't it, it worked for me  :)

 

Regards and luv to all

Ken and Marlene

Update from Rockhampton Australia

Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:12:53 +1000
Subject: Update from Ken Marlene

Thursday 6th

Just a quicky tonight as it's heading on for 9pm and the neighbours go to bed early so need to turn the gene off.

Been warned not to drain the UPS like I have been or it'll die and I can't afford that.

 

Water level had only dropped 50mm by this morning but has been rising agin today. We had 110mm of rain last night.

Up north and out east, some places recorded up to 140mm so we've still got a lot to come.

 

We were warned again today that the water level is predicted to stay at this level for approx 10 days before we see any reduction at all, bugger :(

 

Not able to to do too much today other than the usual charging and pumping chores.

My back is holding up okay but stubbed my toe on the table this afternoon and split it open, blood everywhere. I'm worried that it may be cracked or broken as it's swelling badly and very painfull to walk on. No more walking in the contaminated water untill I can seal or waterproof the wound.

Now the TV crews should be here to see me winge and wine, only joking :) They wouldn't have appreciated my language and I reckon the whole of Yaamba would have heard it.

 

Lots of interest in Kurts dog, no we haven't seen or heard anything of him. The way we saw him flowing down into the mainstream current, I'd say he's definitely long gone unless by some miracle he was washed up onto a bank somewhere, but I doubt it.

 

Hopefully I'll get more time on the email tomorrow

 

Regards

Ken and Marlene

Pictures and email updates from Rockhampton Australia

Updates from our relatives in Rockhampton.  It sounds as though the flood waters have reached their peak.  For those of you not familiar with OZspeak, "Barbie is getting a hammering as we are now doing the cooking outside by torchlight" , means that they are using a flashlight to do all their cooking on the barbecue. (I think)  These pictures really tell the story.  I don't know if I could stay as positive as Ken, especially after throwing out his back and I doubt I could ever be as resourceful as he is.

Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:16:39 +1000
Subject: Update from Ken and Marlene

Hi all

 

Wednesday 5th

I've attached some dowsized low res photos as I know some people are still on modems and speed/space  is a problem.

As predicted, the water peaked overnight at approx 16.6mts.

 

Spent a few hours out with the RSPCA this morning getting some cattle and horses up to the higher ground where our vehicles are stored. Fed the chickens and 6 chicks, peacocks and organised some hay for the cattle and horses up rhere. Sean and Marlene helped rescue a stranded calf and put it over the fence back with mum. Mum was all over it licking and nudging her calf and it was unreal seeing a cow showing such emotion.

 

Channel 7 and 10 news crews were out again today and we were on the news again.

 

Then down to the daily chores, start the generator, recharge all the torch and light batteries, mobile phones. Then downstairs to get the submersible pump going again. We're managing to keep downstairs down to around 100mm of water. The problem is the effluent from the septic tank. Into the bathroom next with another pump to try and clear that out as the stench is really becomming a problem, not a pleasant job. Spent too long down there and crouched too low and bingo, I put my back out again.

After a few hours of excersices and Marlene stretching me this way and that (as per physiologist and physio therapist training) I can walk again, but very slowly.

 

All of a sudden it's 4pm and time to hop in the boat as Noreen has bought some supplies out from Rocky for us.

It's wierd going up the road in the boat. The water is flowing at such a rate, Dan is having to keep the boat angled at 45 degrees into the flow with plenty of throttle to keep us heading in the right direction.

Barbie is getting a hammering as we now doing most of the cooking outside by torchlight.

 

Gotta send this out now as the UPS power supply is beeping faster and faster

 

Regards

Ken and Marlene

 

 

RIVER DOWNS?  HOW IRONIC.

 



 

 

emails from Rockhampton Australia

Rockhampton Australia is the area hit worst by the Australian floods, which are now being called "of biblical proportions."

Here is a perspective North Americans can understand of just how much of the flooded area is under water in Australia:

• For Canadians-It is bigger than the province of British Columbia
• For Americans-It would cover the states of California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Idaho

We have relatives in Rockhampton who have been sending  email updates.  It's one thing to read about it from a news service or watch it on TV but to read these emails puts a much more intense light on what these people are really going through.  I will continue to post them and any pictures they may send.

Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 4:46 PM

Subject: Update from Ken and Marlene

Hi all

 

Monday 3rd

Dan (next door neighbour) picked up the generator in his boat yesterday and got it safely through to us.

Couldn't send an update out yesterday due to no power untill I coud re-route the power through the gene to the essential fridge/freezer, TV and office.

 

Channel 9 news crew came in with the boat as well and did some filming around the house and our block. The girls were too embarrased to get in front of the camera so it was left up to Sean and myself to be interviewed and there we were in the headlines on the 6pm news.

They only showed a fraction of the interview as I think we were too positive and ontop of everything for them.

"But surely you must be devastated and struggling to cope with this disaster"

"We new it was comming and we prepared ourselves as best we could, we're all safe and we're coping with the situation"

"But the hardship and heartbreak you must be going through, you could loose everything"

"It's happening and there's nothing we can do about it, we're ontop of things, we're safe and healthy, so we're being positive and dealing with it."

"But surely you will need SES assistance just to survive and stay. What if you need urgent evacuation"

And so it went on, I think he wanted us all in tears and begging for help and donations. I think he left us a a little dissappointed without the big sob story.

Anyway, we had our moment of glory as headlines on the news as the rural battlers.

 

Back to reality, generator, wiring and essential appliances working as planned. We are only using it a few hours in the morning and a few early evening so as not to disturb the neighbours too much. Just want to keep the essntials going.

Water risen up to the short and curlies today so approx 700mm deep around the house. The water is flowing so fast out on the road now that it's a bit risky to wade down to the pumphouse where the water level indicators are, but based on how far it's come up, I'd say we're about 16.6mts tonight. Buddy (Kurts blue heeler) tried to go for a swim and follow him and unfortunately got taken by the fast flowing water. There was nothing we could do but watch.

The water in the flat downstairs is now about 150mm deep. Although we filled the toilet with sand bags, the effluent is leaking into the flat.

I've drained the toilet and siliconed some plastic around the top, then wood, then a few bags of cement on top and that seems to have sealed the toilet off.

Managed to get a submersible pump and trying to reduce the levels down there.

 

Tuesday 4th.

Water up to 750mm outside and we're told it's now going to peak later tonight about 300mm higher.

Water pumping out okay downstairs. Going to try and pump out the smelly water this morning before it soaks in too much.

 

Channel 9 news helicopters flying all around us for the past half hour so our place should be on the 9 news again tonight.

 

Must get on and get some pumping and cleaning done.

We are all okay and spirits are high.

 

Regards

Ken and Marlene

Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2011 8:24 AM

Subject: Update from Ken and Marlene

Hi all

 

10am:

The water is quickly surrounding the house and will soon be up on the concrete slab. Fingers crossed that the sand bags and plastic keeps the water out of downstairs.

We've just had another warning on the radio that it could possibly peak at over 17.5mts by early next week which would definitely flood downstairs.

In fact it would nearly be reaching upstairs.

We are completely surrounded by water now with the nearest bit of dry land about 2kms away. Our only road in/out is about 3mts under water and about 2kms by boat.

We've been warned that the electricity will be cut off sometime today  so just hope the freezers will keep the food cold untill it comes back on again next week.

Still no internet connection.

 

6pm:

Water was just touching 16mts and the yard is totally engulphed in water.

SES phoned and and told us that the electricity will be cut off at 7am in the morning (Sunday).

Also warned us that we could be told to evacuate tomorrow. We have no choice in the matter. Basically the police come around and give everyone 5 minutes notice to get into the boat (no pets). If you don't get in they arrest you and charge you. So althought we have shown the SES how well we are prepared, it's not down to us to make the decision, it's made by some head honcho sitting in his office in Rocky with no idea of what's heppening out here.

Two of our neighbours have already gone as they have families and friends to stay with. There's just Dan next door, Kurt and Heidi across the road us.

 

1:10am

Back on line but ooh so slow

Garden and yard is now about half a metre under water and the plastic has a slight leak around the air con unit and is slowly seeping into the downstairs flat, bugger :(

Sean and I have been down there for the past 4 hours trying to load more sand bags and plastic sheeting but I think we are fighting a loosing battle.

Expecting the flat to be flooded by the morning and expecting River level to be at approx 16.4mts.

We did everything we could preparing for this and trying to fix it tonight, but now we're in the lap of the gods.

Updated warning on the TV tonight is still predicting over 17.5 metres with Rockhampton peaking at over 9.4mts by early to mid next week.

This will be the highest flood on record this century.

Rockhampton is now totallay cut off with no way in or out and even the airport was closed earlier today.

Snakes, insects, bugs and frogs are becoming the next biggest problem, trying to get to higher ground.

 

I must admit, it's an awesome sight with our riverside views. Water as far as the eye can see in every direction and almost flowing as fast as the rapids on the Zambezi.

Every cloud has a silver linng, or so I'm told, so we're finding all the positives we can and coping with those other moments.

There's nothing we can do about it so just gotta deal with it. Expect the worst and anything less is a bonus :)

Been taking lots of pics and took some video today.

 

Well I'm absolutely buggered and must hit the sack as it's now past 2am, so will update you all with our progress tomorrow, if we have power.

I've organised to borrow a generator, so hope it turns up.

 

BTW, happy New Year to everyone and may we all have a happy and prosperous New Year

 

Regards

Ken and Marlene