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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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 Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:42 am Post subject: Floods |
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The SMH gives a comprehensive report here:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/100000-to-lose-power-supermarkets-bare-as-flooding-crisis-continues-20110110-19l56.html
Globutron wrote:
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| What the CRAP happened in 1840 and 1890!?? |
Brisbane wasn't opened to free settlers until 1842, so any flood in January 1841 (NOT 1840) had no effect on the city, which didn't exist at the time, although a penal colony was established at North Quay in 1825. The peak for that flood was 8.43 metres (27 feet, 8 inches). The flood peak was measured from debris high in trees. And there was no major flood in 1890 either. The double major floods of February 1893 (8.43 metres / 27 feet, 8 inches) are summarised here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1893_Brisbane_flood
There were 2 major floods in February 1893 within a fortnight of each other. The 2nd flood was only 6-10 inches lower than the first (depending on which flood gauge is used), & it moved 2 large boats stranded in the Botanic Gardens by the 1st flood, back into the river. (the 'Elamang' & the 'Paluma'). Folks were taking bets which flood would be bigger. Those betting on the first flood were the winners. BOM has coverage of all floods in the catchment here: http://www.bom.gov.au/hydro/flood/qld/fld_history/brisbane_history.shtml
The 1974 flood peak was only 6.6 metres at the Port Office Gauge. The City Gauge peak was 5.6 metres. Forecasts I read for tomorrow have this current flood set to peak at 4.6 metres. Edit: 4.2 metres
Last edited by chris_J2 on Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:12 am; edited 2 times in total |
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tottenhamtaipeinick
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:23 am Post subject: |
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Yeah i thought it was bs the media reports but after toowoomba has been hit ipswhich has been hit hard and more people dead and missing.......
i got to my gf and we are at apartment and i left car downstairs! will go under water tomorrow or thursday so i hope this apartment building will hold cause I have nowhere else to go.....
i seriously hope ur right chris and this is all talk from the media! the roads are closing though quickly and not many places I can go for now...
worse to hit thursday power is still on and internet as well so thats good! |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:51 am Post subject: Floods |
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Also from the SMH:
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He (the Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman) said the latest advice suggested the Brisbane River would peak at the port office gauge, in the CBD, on Thursday at 4.2 metres.
"To put that in context, the 1974 flood was higher (6.6m) but a 4.2-metre reading at the Brisbane gauge is very significant indeed." |
(3.5 metres is classified as major flooding)
So 4.2 metres at the P.O.G., not 4.6m, which is my erroneous recollection.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/6500-brisbane-properties-to-flood-mayor-20110111-19m63.html
Be careful of touching powerlines too. There were a couple of electrocution deaths in 1974 from people in boats passing below / touching live power lines. If the apartment looks threatened with undermining by water, have an escape plan ready. And charge up your laptop, radio, camera, cellphone etc whilst you still have power.
Here's a link to keep an eye on that developing low east of New Caledonia: http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohemiloops/shirgmscol.html
And another which has a track forecast heading west across NC on the 14th January: http://www.meteo.nc/cyclones/traj.php?traj=traja_QMDA |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:12 am Post subject: |
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| I know this is a small comfort, but at least you don't own the property and you've been planning to move to Korea anyways. If the flooding reaches your apartment, hang out on the roof and take pictures for us. Stay safe! |
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Globutron
Joined: 13 Feb 2010
Location: England/Anyang
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
| I know this is a small comfort, but at least you don't own the property and you've been planning to move to Korea anyways. If the flooding reaches your apartment, hang out on the roof and take pictures for us. Stay safe! |
If you're not too busy trying to anchor it from floating away like the videos I've seen. |
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tottenhamtaipeinick
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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haha silkhighway yeah thats a great thing! 
sorry I was just so worried yesterday as the news was playing video clips of other smaller cities in the area that got completed flooded and showing people being swepted away (well the same video clip of the same cars being swepted away like 3 or something haha) and kept saying its about to hit Brisbane and they also said the part of the city my gf is in is going under and will be isolated milton.... and phone lines got jammed so i got worried as i was outside brisbane.
But yeah i think its more how quick the water is flowing is the scary bit. It is sunny today and ppl are more likely to go have a look which could spell disaster. My gf is staying in the apartment today and we are set back a bit and a high up level so everything is good. Though our street is flooding right now so can drive in today but I already left car up on the hill so should be right... I hope
But already 2 mcdonalds are under water so no more drivethru but you can sail through haha! |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:25 pm Post subject: Floods |
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http://www.bom.gov.au/fwo/IDQ65389/IDQ65389.540198.plt.shtml
Currently 3.8 metres at the city gauge & rising
The BOM is giving more balanced & less sensationalized coverage than tabloids screaming "worst flood since 1893":
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IPSWICH: At 11:30 am Wednesday, flood levels at Ipswich are at 19.3 metres and rising. A peak is expected this afternoon of about 20.5 metres. This is similar to the 1974 flood level.
BRISBANE: At 11:45am Wednesday, the Brisbane City gauge (lower end of Edward Street and at Thornton Street) was 3.75 metres and rising. Rises will continue during Wednesday afternoon and overnight.
At the Brisbane City gauge, river levels of about 4.5 metres (major) are
expected with the high tide on Wednesday afternoon. River rises will continue into Thursday with a peak of about 5.5 metres expected with the high tides at 4am and 4pm. Levels will remain high throughout Thursday. This is similar to the 1974 flood peak of 5.45 metres.
Wivenhoe dam is providing significant mitigation of upper Brisbane floods. River flows from the Bremer and Lockyer catchments combined with releases from Wivenhoe dam will continue to increase flood levels in Brisbane during the next 24 hours. |
http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20805.html
Another website (JTWC) to keep an eye on Cyclone Vania, moving west from New Caledonia's area towards Qld: http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/nmfc-ph/RSS/jtwc/warnings/sh0511.gif |
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tottenhamtaipeinick
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Chris!
BOM website is helping me decide what to do! Cheers! |
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tottenhamtaipeinick
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris can you work for Queensland government as u seem to be very sensible and reasonable about the events occuring! PLEASE!! |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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southernman
Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Location: On the mainland again
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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Whle its true that the earthquake that eventually hits Tokyo will be far more catastrophic. The flooding in Queensland, considering the size of the area, is huge in its magnitude. Larger than the size of France and Germany combined. Kinda makes you realise how small Europe really is.
I lived in Fortitude Valley for a while, its lucky that there are some high areas, otherwise all of the floating syringes would have proved a major hazard to any inflatable boats trying to rescue people 
I'm glad your gf and you are now with each other and ok OP. Stay safe |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:11 pm Post subject: Floods |
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| Good news: the flood peak at the City gauge only reached 4.45 metres, which is well short of the 5.45 m of 1974 tabloids were saying would be exceeded. |
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Axiom
Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: Floods |
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| chris_J2 wrote: |
| Good news: the flood peak at the City gauge only reached 4.45 metres, which is well short of the 5.45 m of 1974 tabloids were saying would be exceeded. |
Thank heavens for Wivenhoe Dam. Unbelieve how widespead this flooding is. |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject: Floods |
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Wivenhoe only took a metre off the flood peak as much of the rain fell outside the Upper Brisbane & Stanley River catchments. The Lockyer Valley creeks empty into the Brisbane River below the dam near Lowood / Fernvale. But if the rain had fallen up near Peachester & Crohamhurst as it did in 1893, then Wivenhoe would have reduced the flood peak by 2 metres. Every metre off the flood peak helps. In 1974 over 600 mm fell in the Upper Bremer River catchment, which has no sizable flood storage reservoirs. So again, Wivenhoe would have no effect on flood rains falling on other sub catchment areas.
Last edited by chris_J2 on Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Axiom
Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Floods |
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| chris_J2 wrote: |
| Wivenhoe only took a metre off the flood peak as much of the rain fell outside the Upper Brisbane & Stanley River catchments. The Lockyer Valley creeks empty into the Bribane River below the dam near Lowood / Fernvale. But if the rain had fallen up near Peachester & Crohamhurst as it did in 1893, then Wivenhoe would have reduced the flood peak by 2 metres. Every metre off the flood peak helps. In 1974 over 600 mm fell in the Upper Bremer River catchment, which has no sizable flood storage reservoirs. So again, Wivenhoe would have no effect on flood rains falling on other sub catchment areas. |
+1. One less metre of misery.
Phenomenal amount of community Queenslander spirit being shown in the clean up.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sunday-telegraph/the-day-an-army-of-angels-turned-up/story-e6frewt0-1225988496024
Then an army of angels turned up
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It was the day an army of big-hearted volunteers shouldering brooms, mops and shovels began digging and sweeping Brisbane out of the mud.
In a remarkable display of community spirit, more than 20,000 signed on for duty, ready to bend their backs to help fellow residents reclaim their homes and waterlogged possessions from the stinking sludge left behind by the worst floods in a generation.
Politicians, pensioners, university students, garbos, chippies, teenagers, mums and dads from all walks of life joined forces in the street-by-street clean-up. They brought their own tools and an inexhaustible supply of goodwill. |
That was yesterday. That was on a typical hot, sticky Brisbane summers day.
But it hasn't detered them. This morning on the news we are seeing thousands of people volunteering for the clean up again.
I just watched a helicoptor shot of a line of volunteers at MacGregor High School in the southside of Brissy. The line was about three or four abreast and stretched back for over a kilometre. These volunteers are being bussed to areas of need. This was only of one location of four that have been set up in Brissy. Quite moving. |
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