Floods

[joandsarah]

It's been raining for days now and some parts of our town are being flooded and they are talking about evacuating some now. My Dad's looks like his shed might get flooded and the same for my friends house. She's moving her computer upstairs- It's a high set. So far our place is fine as we are higher than both of them, but they are saying more is yet to come. If it does raise enough to get here our place would be flooded as it's only up about half a foot. There hasn't been a flood in our town since 1981. So any good thoughts, prayers or vibes much appreciated. Currently my MIL, FIL and BIL are stranded at our house as the road back to their town is cut off with flood water. Let’s hope they are wrong about more coming tonight!

[valpre1983]

Jo, it must be a frightening, nerve wrecking situation to be in I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[Aussie Karima]

Thank God I am higher up,as it has been raining now on & off for nearly three weeks, I will pray & send good vibes your way, I will think very dry thoughts,so you don't get flooded!OK!

[joandsarah]

Thanks guys, it's much appreciated. We've had no rain for about 3 hours now, which is great, so the level hasn't gone up, but apparently it hasn't gone down either. so I hope none comes down from the Mts like they were saying.

[jillyson]

Wow, Jo! That's really wild! I hope and pray that everything will calm down and the waters can go back where they belong! Thanks Goodness the family is able to stay with you & weren't off somewhere else instead!

[qui]

Wow! I hope the water doesn't rise anymore! I hope everything works out for your family and nothing else is destroyed.

[holleyberry]

We have had a bunch of rain here the past two weeks as well. There was flooding in areas south of here, but nothing more than an inconvenience for us. It's hard to be in a tiny house with two small boys while it's raining outside.

I hope the weather clears enough for your company to go home. Be safe and keep dry

[amylu1988]

Hope it doesn't rain any more for you Jo, that sounds scary! At least you're a bit higher up, maybe you're safe from it all. *hugs*

[Aussie Karima]

Jo,funny thing since you asked for prayers & good wishes & thoughts,it has stopped raining, & seeing we do not live that far apart I am hoping the same applies for you!

[jillyson]

Yeah, we're just that good.

[joandsarah]

It hasn't rained all night which is very good, but I believe they were more concerned about it raining up in the Mountains and then the water coming down the river. They were saying last night it would/might peak at about 3am. DH and FIL went off for a drive so I'll see what they say when they get back. Our town is kind of cut down the middle by a large creek so each side is cut off from the other, which is why MIL, FIL and BIL can't get back home as they closed off the bridges. They were evacuating some of the house close to the creek last night to the showgrounds which is down the road from us.(The showgrounds is down the road that is.) We nearly bought one of those creek houses when we were looking for a place. Glad we bought here! They use the truckstop across the road as a choppter stop too, it's been coming and going. I guess that means we are in a safer area.

[joandsarah]

Update

Holley asked me how things were going, so here is the latest for anyone else who would like to know.

They said the local creek peaked at 3.8 meters yesterday at four. most of our side is good, they evacuate people to the show grounds which is half a km down the road from us. Maybe 1/3 of a mile. The way it floods some roads and houses and not others is very strange. Must be the way the land dips up and down here even though it looks basically flat.

My parents are holed up into their place. The way the water goes up and down is crazy. Least they got some groceries in the morning before the water came up again in the afternoon. Dad said the water reached the top of their bottom step. Hopefully it has gone down again overnight.

Steve's parents live an hour away and they are okay. It's weird how badly Toowoomba has been affected downtown as the city is up on a hill. Those pictures he saw may have been from there, eight people have died there. They had a wall of water and it just swept away some cars.

It's my friend who has it the worst. She only finished cleaning up from the first lot of water. The last time I managed to ring her was yesterday morning before the water rose, and she was holed up even then. Her phone went later so I have no idea how bad that side of town got. She has a highset so the main part of her house would be okay, but downstairs is her play room and laundry. I know her neighbours came over and put her piano and washing machine up on bricks. Her dh is with the SES (State Emergency Service) So he is away helping other people which is hard on her. I hope she is doing okay with her two kids there by herself. I don't know if her dh could even get through the flood waters to get home.

I'm told-(I sleep heavy through storms) That there was a storm last night. So I don't know if it is higher or lower yet.

[jillyson]

That's so scary. I hope your poor friend is OK - how terrible to be on her own with little ones and no communication. Does anyone have a boat that they can use to check on her?

Once, when I was a little girl, our street flooded like that. My house was on a big hill & we were fine, but my best friend across the street had a ranch house on a flat parcel of land, and her basement flooded right to the ceiling. We had some friends down the road who were stranded, and my dad had a small rowboat for fishing. We paddled down to them & brought them over to the hill.

Maybe someone could do that and see if she's Ok in there.

[amylu1988]

Blimey that does sound scary! Poor woman, with no communication too. Glad that you're okay though, Jo, keep us posted! *hugs*

[joandsarah]

I just heard on the news that one of the cars swept away in Toowoomba was a mum and two kids. I believe all three died.

I just got through to my friend and she seems okay. Her dh didn't come home but he managed to phone her. The bottom of her house is still flooded but at least she didn't lose the power and she has food. The phone is pretty bad though, really crackly so I don't think that will last as they say the water is going to rise yet again.

Oh forgot to mention this: They say they don't need any help down at the show grounds, which may be because they don't or because of what I heard, two so called helpers apparently stole donated money and things meant for helping people out.