I have been watching the news regarding the terrible flooding in Townsville. I lived in Townsville for 18 months around 2000 and remember a cyclone when I was there.
I lived in the Railway Estate area and recall that if there was heavy rain and the tide was full, all the drains would cease to function and the front and back yard would be under water until the tide ebbed. I lived in a Queenslander so the elevation prevented water coming into the house but as the washing machine was downstairs it was raised up on blocks.
The news coverage last night showed not only the street I lived in but also the actual house. All the downstairs area was underwater but the grand old house was still above the water, but only just.
It looks like it is only going to get worse according to the forecast. So much for being in the "dry tropics".
I thought about you when I watched the flooding Doug as I know you have family in the area. My recollection is that the southern suburbs and the ones towards the upper Ross were always the first affected. I remember when the cyclone hit in 2000 that the rain deluge closed the town for about a week. There was no power and most of the streets where I lived were closed off.
The locals where I lived used to go across to the Ross River Hotel where he had a generator to keep the fridge going and we would all sit in there in candlelight, drinking beer and hearing cyclone and flood stories of yesteryear Townsville.
I like Townsville. It is one of those places where you dont have to have lived there for ever to be a local. Most are blow ins and most are welcomed.
Hope everything goes okay for your daughter and her family, Doug. At least you know they are safe.
Just checked 6.0pm 3.2.19 the BOM radar, and Townsville is till coping a drenching so our hearts goes out to those poor people in the region. And given that Townaville is rather flat area, move flooding to follow.
Mother Nature is certainly a SWMBO together with being a unpredictable beast.
Jay&Dee
-- Edited by JayDee on Sunday 3rd of February 2019 06:42:51 PM
We should spare a thought and a prayer for any forumites that are currently in Townsville.
I personally dont know any but Warren-Pat_01 comes to mind as I have read that they live in Townsville.
Along with all from that area I hope and trust that they are all safe and well.
I just don't understand the mindset of the media. I used to think that perhaps the ABC weren't so dramatic with their coverage of natural disasters but have been proven wrong.
Last night, in addition to all the hand waving and arms being thrown about to emphasise whatever she was saying, this dunderheaded reporter was wading through knee deep floodwater warning viewers of the "wait for it" dangers of wading through floodwaters, even if it was only "knee deep".
We then crossed to some other air head who was interviewing some poor old soul who thought she might have lost a photo of someone who had died 60 years ago.
Not to be outdone, the next one was giving a report from the tray of a council dump truck, explaining that the truck had been used to transport people from a nearby street. She then pointed to the floor of the truck To finish her report she dramatically stated that more rain could be coming, and to emphasise that point, she pointed up in the air. I assume that was to indicate where rain came from for those who were not sure.
Where do they get them or who instructs them to do this?
Saw the same story's I think but on different channel.
I remember a few moons back now I was up there during a smallish Cyclone and a local reporter was out in it with raincoat on and umbrella that was, well, more like a stick. He was telling everyone how wet and windy it was. Dur! He actually got canned the next week in the paper up there for being so stupid and in a dangerous situation.
Yep, Producers.
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