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Title: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 10, 2011, 04:03:57 AM This happened today. Death toll 7 and rising. Lots of insane videos emerging ... and the water is proceeding towards other towns.
http://youtu.be/D7HLvwPmles http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/01/10/3109884.htm It's up in the northeast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Basically an area the size of Texas and Oklahoma combined is already underwater, so everywhere is soaked and the ground cannot hold more water. Then they had a massive downpour and this was the result. The water is currently heading towards the city of Brisbane, with river levels higher than any previous records and the main dam already overflowing. Here's a graph of a river level downstream: http://lh3.ggpht.com/_VWM_Sxd-tCw/TSrnXS0bBfI/AAAAAAAAACE/-A6F4fGPN0c/s640/flood.JPG (before the measuring station failed, presumably washed away) Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 10, 2011, 04:21:05 AM This is escalating rapidly. The number of missing is growing and more towns are involved.
Police say they are "tracking the movement of what's described as an inland tsunami." Photo of the flash flood in the videos above: http://i.imgur.com/nEq8p.jpg Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: RhyssaFireheart on January 10, 2011, 06:06:56 AM Holy cow - that's just crazy, Tale. :ye_gods:
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: UnSub on January 10, 2011, 07:27:06 AM It really is insane. We've got floods AND drought here in WA while Queensland went from drought to enough water for a bumper crop to everything is underwater.
At least one politician has leapt on this event as a reason that planned water management schemes for a major river system are unneeded, ignoring the facts that these floods are unprecedented and we don't know if / when they'll repeat. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: WayAbvPar on January 10, 2011, 09:21:25 AM Climate change is a myth propagated by the liberal media!
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 10, 2011, 03:11:05 PM Now 8 dead, 72 missing.
Best coverage here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/ Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: WayAbvPar on January 10, 2011, 03:42:39 PM Was the storm some sort of cyclone remnant, or something more localized?
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: lamaros on January 10, 2011, 03:54:10 PM Was the storm some sort of cyclone remnant, or something more localized? Lots of rain, everywhere. The government is offering flood relief (social service payments) to 5 states last I heard. And this country is big with only a few states. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 10, 2011, 04:43:48 PM Amazing pictures in the second half of the video on this page (after the reporter with the Road Closed sign).
http://skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=562944&vId=2089515&cId=Top%20Stories&play=true Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: UnSub on January 10, 2011, 05:03:50 PM Was the storm some sort of cyclone remnant, or something more localized? Of the top of my head, these are flash floods, where a lot of rain gets dumped quickly onto the land. The soil turns to surface mud and propels the water in large quantities through river systems, creek beds, etc. It's one of the reasons campers are warned not to set-up in dry creek beds because rain several kms away can easily suddenly appear as a wall of water that fills that creek. Qld was already suffering from massive floods due to this dumping of water; these flash floods are hitting some new areas. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 10, 2011, 05:08:12 PM Lots of cars getting destroyed (ignore the annoying voiceover): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYUpkPTcqPY
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 10, 2011, 05:40:32 PM Was the storm some sort of cyclone remnant, or something more localized? There has been an unbelievable amount of rain for weeks, after years of drought. The ground is waterlogged and massive areas are flooded - it's visible from space, like a giant inland sea. The flash floods are occurring south of that massive flood, where all the rivers and dams were already full, and then there was another massive sudden downpour. They are still having heavy rain today. Australia and South America are affected by Pacific weather patterns called El Nino (which brings dry and drought) and La Nina (which brings wet weather). We've just had years of El Nino, with some dam levels down to 8% and talk of trucking in water, and now La Nina is back with a vengeance. These water levels are higher than anything in recorded history. It's having major economic effects. There's a lot of mining in that area and all the mines are full of water. The miners are helping with flood emergency work because there's nothing else to do. The price of coal has shot up internationally. The crops and herds of livestock on the farms are destroyed. Snakes and other fleeing wildlife are all up in everything, in people's roofs, etc. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: UnSub on January 10, 2011, 08:33:30 PM Following on: despite being summer in tropical Queensland, those impacted by floods can't leave doors / windows open unless they have a security screens because otherwise the local wildlife will enter, seeking respite from the water. An overview of the snakes of Queensland. (http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/snakes/)
Mosquitoes are also starting to breed, particularly as the water drops a bit and stagnant pools develop. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Sand on January 10, 2011, 10:32:09 PM Wow. What a tragedy.
Mother nature is a scary chick sometimes. Hope none of you guys posting from down under are at risk. Anyone find any shots from space? Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 10, 2011, 10:40:55 PM The ABC (our BBC equivalent) has removed the geoblock on its 24-hour news channel streaming.
You should be able to watch this live: http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/ Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: UnSub on January 11, 2011, 06:04:40 AM Some pictures from NASA, but I'm not sure they show things that well (or might mean more to someone who has seen more of them than I have). (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/nasa-satellites-capture-amazing-pictures-of-queensland-floods-20110106-19gql.html)
Brisbane - capital of Queenland - is facing a flood for the first time since 1974, but get this: not only is there a flood, but the dams are full AND Queensland is seeing king tides. There's nowhere for the water to flow away to quickly. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Raging Turtle on January 11, 2011, 09:06:13 AM The video of the family trapped in the minivan in the middle of what looks like a lake was hard to watch.
I have no idea how common crocodiles are in this part of Australia but this picture seems like something out of a suburban nightmare (http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/979/16803017779012173941535.jpg) Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: ghost on January 11, 2011, 09:29:06 AM Watching these videos is totally creepy. Also, I found this quote on my quote-of-the-day page I use at work, which I found to be equally creepy.
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia. Charles M. Schulz (1922 - 2000) Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Sand on January 11, 2011, 11:27:13 AM A crocodile in a down town park is creepy!
Like I said I hope all the posters from down under are safe, as well as any family/loved ones. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 11, 2011, 04:25:51 PM Frogs are riding snakes to safety.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?&id=8195243&mch=snlink&cmp=art_8195243&mch=snlink&cmp=art_8195243 (http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/4232/1101froglgsp.jpg) (http://img813.imageshack.us/i/1101froglgsp.jpg/) Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Sand on January 11, 2011, 09:54:20 PM Tale Im pretty sure that last picture belongs in the anti-christ thread. Its one of the seven signs of the apocalypse or something.
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Fordel on January 11, 2011, 10:12:48 PM I had no idea the flooding was this serious. I saw the clip of some cars being washed away in the parking lot and just assumed it was a weird local flooding thing... but apparently like a quarter of Australia is now underwater :ye_gods:
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 11, 2011, 10:23:29 PM A bull shark was seen swimming up the main street of suburban Goodna, near Brisbane.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/12/3111496.htm Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: NowhereMan on January 12, 2011, 01:53:28 AM Australia built that Ark thing right? :ye_gods:
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 12, 2011, 12:36:45 PM Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 12, 2011, 01:16:48 PM I thought it might be safe to look at some of the comments on CNN's Australia floods story. Here are the first few ... :facepalm:
Quote ilobos Yeah I believe in natural cycles of flood and drought - have a look at history before jumping on the "Climate Change" bandwagon (or maybe you like to put money in the elites pockets). Quote LoudSilence Why does some of the people look yellow (like picture #4). Reminds me of the Simpsons! Desjardins They eat too much mustard Quote alimaqbool how cmoe there is no cry for help to australian victims. or is it only muslim victims that get help. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: RhyssaFireheart on January 12, 2011, 01:49:31 PM Oh gods that picture! :ye_gods: Please tell me those aren't 2 storey houses at least.
And I'm firmly convinced that most news articles/posts/anything like that would survive just fine if commenting weren't allowed. Otherwise, it's just safest to not read the stupid crazy. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Fordel on January 12, 2011, 03:56:10 PM Those look like bungalows, but that's still like, 4+ meters of water at least. :ye_gods:
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 12, 2011, 04:16:29 PM Photo taken by phone company repairman doing post-flood work: http://twitpic.com/3phfi9
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Fordel on January 12, 2011, 04:32:40 PM Shit, I didn't even realize what those coils were till I read the caption!
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Raging Turtle on January 12, 2011, 05:08:04 PM I'm just going to assume those snakes are extremely venomous because, you know, Australia.
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: pants on January 12, 2011, 05:11:59 PM I'm just going to assume those snakes are extremely venomous because, you know, Australia. Correct assumption. Red belly black snakes are deadly. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 12, 2011, 07:06:16 PM I'm just going to assume those snakes are extremely venomous because, you know, Australia. Correct assumption. Red belly black snakes are deadly. They're extremely venomous, but not one of the most deadly. People usually survive red-bellied black snake bites. But you don't want to be bitten. They usually flee humans. I do a lot of cycling and I sometimes see red-bellied black snakes on the road ahead of me. Often they're dead due to getting run over, but three times I've realised quick enough that they are live snakes, basking in the sun. I get off the bike some distance away, stamp the metal cleats of my cycling shoes on the road until the snake feels the vibrations, and it always panics and flees. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 12, 2011, 07:17:12 PM Next!
HIGH SEAS WEATHER WARNING FOR METAREA 10 ISSUED BY THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE BRISBANE AT 0200UTC 13 JANUARY 2011 GALE WARNING FOR NORTH EASTERN AREA SITUATION At 0000 UTC a Tropical Low was centred within 90 nautical miles of latitude fourteen decimal seven south (14.7S) longitude one hundred and forty nine decimal nine east (149.9E) Recent movement : northwest at 6 knots Maximum winds : 25 knots Central pressure: 1000 hPa The low may develop into a tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: pants on January 12, 2011, 07:21:17 PM I'm just going to assume those snakes are extremely venomous because, you know, Australia. Correct assumption. Red belly black snakes are deadly. They're extremely venomous, but not one of the most deadly. People usually survive red-bellied black snake bites. But you don't want to be bitten. They usually flee humans. I do a lot of cycling and I sometimes see red-bellied black snakes on the road ahead of me. Often they're dead due to getting run over, but three times I've realised quick enough that they are live snakes, basking in the sun. I get off the bike some distance away, stamp the metal cleats of my cycling shoes on the road until the snake feels the vibrations, and it always panics and flees. There you go. I always thought they were deadly. You learn something every day. And yes, they are scardeycats. Although the time I found one in my back yard I'm not sure who jumped higher in shock - me or it. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: ghost on January 12, 2011, 07:24:30 PM I almost ran over a huge rattlesnake while mountain biking once. It's scary as shit if you don't see it coming.
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 12, 2011, 09:10:46 PM Google street view of a Brisbane street, compared with current flooded view. Best indicator of the height of the water is the traffic lights.
http://twitpic.com/3pj0ra Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: ghost on January 12, 2011, 10:16:26 PM This is absolutely insane. Do they have any thoughts about when it will go away?
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: WayAbvPar on January 13, 2011, 10:12:24 AM After 40 days and 40 nights. Duh.
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: ghost on January 13, 2011, 11:37:24 AM This is an absolutely heart wrenching story (http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/13/flood.teenager/index.html?hpt=C1) about a kid that died to save his brother in the floods. :heartbreak:
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 13, 2011, 12:38:28 PM This is an absolutely heart wrenching story (http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/13/flood.teenager/index.html?hpt=C1) about a kid that died to save his brother in the floods. :heartbreak: How weird. I'm a journalist in Australia. The writer of that story comes from Wales (UK). She worked with me for a TV network in Sydney for the last few years. She moved back to England, where she is now. And a US TV network has paid her to do a web write-up of a story from the Nine Network, another Australian TV station. The world makes no sense. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 13, 2011, 05:33:34 PM Meanwhile on the other side of the southern hemisphere, Brazil is also having insanely large floods, with over 500 people dead in its worst natural disaster for 50 years.
And in Sri Lanka, 300,000 people are displaced in massive flooding, also linked to the La Nina weather pattern affecting Australia. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: UnSub on January 13, 2011, 05:55:59 PM It appears that some of the rivers didn't get as high as expected, so Brisbane wasn't as badly hit as initially expected. That said, the CBD was water logged and underground car parks are 1) full of water and 2) full of junk washed in by the water.
Massive repercussions for Australia as key farming land may have been stripped of top soil and the cost of building materials will sky rocket. Plus it isn't over yet. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Mosesandstick on January 13, 2011, 05:57:07 PM There are also floods in the Phillipines. I think all indications are that these ones are going to be much worse than the Australian ones, Australia has the money and infrastructure to mitigate and prevent damage. Sad times all around.
Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Sand on January 13, 2011, 07:29:08 PM Australia, Brazil and now the Phillipines.
So uhm should we be merging this thread yet with the Anti-christ one? Or add the words "Mayan Calendar" somewhere in the title? Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Tale on January 13, 2011, 08:59:43 PM Favourite story of the day.
Quote Snakes fall from trees in Qld floods 14 January 2011 | 03:37:43 PM | Source: AAP Snakes are still posing a threat to emergency and cleanup crews in central Queensland, with the reptiles even trying to escape the rising waters by slithering into flood boats. And in Dalby a snake catcher has been hired to protect New Zealand SES volunteers. Western Downs Mayor Ray Brown said snakes are still posing a real threat to emergency and cleanup crews. "We have a contingent of 20 SES volunteers from New Zealand working in Dalby at the moment but we've had to hire a local snake catcher to go around with them and keep the snakes away from them, because the Kiwis don't like them very much," he told AAP. "There are no snakes in New Zealand so these poor blokes are pretty spooked by it all and the Aussies are taking every opportunity to tell them as many scary snake stories as they can," he said with a laugh. The mayor said while no one has been bitten yet paramedics are on hand just in case. "They're not here just in case of snakebites but they're ready to deal with them if necessary," he said. "I was talking to a medical crew who went out on the Condamine River at Dalby in a flood boat just on dark last night, and they had a number of snakes swimming up to the boat and trying to get in because they're looking for anything to hang onto. "And there have been lots of stories about snakes getting caught up in trees and as boats go by they're just plopping out of the trees; I mean it's not raining snakes but it's not the most pleasant of places to be. "Their country's been flooded too and they're just trying to survive, but anything that wriggles mate, you stay well away from, and I have a lot of respect for snakes." Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: ghost on January 14, 2011, 06:40:06 AM Australia, Brazil and now the Phillipines. So uhm should we be merging this thread yet with the Anti-christ one? Or add the words "Mayan Calendar" somewhere in the title? I was thinking this same damned thing. Dogs and cats, living together. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: Teleku on January 14, 2011, 04:39:35 PM Also, a bit earlier on, California had a rash of flooding in the south. Southern California had the wettest December in recorded history this year, and it flooded a shit ton down there. For the same reasons as Australia, since we are also affected be El Nino and La Nina here.
So basically, you could probably blame all the flooding on that rather than the anti-Christ, but thats not nearly as fun, I will agree. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: ghost on January 14, 2011, 05:01:21 PM El Nino and La Nina Maybe they are together the antichrist. Title: Re: Videos: Deadly flash floods in Australia Post by: pants on January 16, 2011, 02:51:46 PM El Nino and La Nina Maybe they are together the antichrist. El Nino is Spanish for 'the boy', and was named that in reference to baby Jesus, since it was first noticed in south america around Christmas time - I think we're onto something here... |