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Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

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Re: Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

#11
post #2

I'm at a loss to think of a hack to help them, but I'll keep thinking...

Here's an easy hack. Pull out your credit card, go here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html Joint appeal from Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Queensland Emergency Service, I believe. Edit: http://telethon.smartservice.qld.gov.au/ takes you directly to the credit card donations page. First link gives you other options. Edit 2: Red Cross direct donations: https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonation…

Does Australia need that? I don't think they are a poor country? Sorry if that sounds petty, just wondering.

Re: Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

#12
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's an easy hack. Pull out your credit card, go here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html Joint appeal from Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Queensland Emergency Service, I believe. Edit: http://telethon.smartservice.qld.gov.au/ takes you directly to the credit card donations page. First link gives you other options. Edit 2: Red Cross direct donations: https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonation…

Does Australia need that? I don't think they are a poor country? Sorry if that sounds petty, just wondering.

No, not really. I'm a little embarrassed that we're calling out for donations when there are much more worthy causes.

Re: Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

#13
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's an easy hack. Pull out your credit card, go here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html Joint appeal from Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Queensland Emergency Service, I believe. Edit: http://telethon.smartservice.qld.gov.au/ takes you directly to the credit card donations page. First link gives you other options. Edit 2: Red Cross direct donations: https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonation…

Does Australia need that? I don't think they are a poor country? Sorry if that sounds petty, just wondering.

It depends on what you define as 'need', which is going to be a bit subjective. I can't be your conscience for you.

But every dollar will find a use now helping to evacuate, feed and protect people from the flood waters and in future it will help them to rebuild.

Re: Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

#14
My first thoughts were that when we moved from Brisbane to London 3 months ago, all my Queensland mates laughed about leaving the Sunshine State for UK weather. They've had nothing but rain since.

A few years ago I helped write a book on the history of Brisbane Riverfront homes. Most of those owners knew exactly where the previous floods (especially 1974, which this one will roughly equal) had reached. In some cases, their multi-million dollar home had been submerged; in one case, the owner boasted how they had come home to find a yacht in their living room. They all knew that no matter how many dams were built or droughts were declared, floods would happen again. I hope they're all safe.

Another interesting piece of information from that book's research was that it takes, on average, about 20 years for the effects of flooding to dissipate in the community. This is most obvious through riverfront housing prices - yes, they are multi-million dollars now (or at least, were 2 weeks ago), but it took a long time after 1974 (and 1955 and 1893) for the mindset to shift from 'major risk' to 'major desire'. Another way of saying: the impact of this flood on the city I love will last a generation.

Re: Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

#15

There was some flash flooding in my city of Toowoomba (close to Brisbane QLD) earlier this week. I was supposed to meet a client that afternoon in the CBD, I'm sure glad I cancelled! I collected some footage and images if anyone is interested: http://phillipsdesign.com.au/notebook/toowoomba-floods/ Good luck to the people in Brisbane and surrounds, stay safe.

Didn't realize there were other HNers in Toowoomba. Coffee sometime?

Re: Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

#17
It's nice to see that HN is thinking of us :)

My housemates and I had to evacuate our apartment building this morning. Our place is on the fourth story so our things should be ok, but we won't be able to get back until Saturday, if not later. After all the thunder, lightning, and rain over the last few days it was a bit surreal to be wading down our street (carrying my pack out of the water and trying not to let the cat drown) on a hot and sunny summer morning.

Re: Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

#18
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's an easy hack. Pull out your credit card, go here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html Joint appeal from Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Queensland Emergency Service, I believe. Edit: http://telethon.smartservice.qld.gov.au/ takes you directly to the credit card donations page. First link gives you other options. Edit 2: Red Cross direct donations: https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonation…

Does Australia need that? I don't think they are a poor country? Sorry if that sounds petty, just wondering.

HN isn't just a Californian site. Many of us live in Australia, or have lived.

Re: Tell HN: Flooded area in Queensland now the size of Texas

#19
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's an easy hack. Pull out your credit card, go here: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html Joint appeal from Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Queensland Emergency Service, I believe. Edit: http://telethon.smartservice.qld.gov.au/ takes you directly to the credit card donations page. First link gives you other options. Edit 2: Red Cross direct donations: https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonation…

Does Australia need that? I don't think they are a poor country? Sorry if that sounds petty, just wondering.

Cleanup bill estimates I've heard so far are in excess of $15 billion. There is an estimated $2 billion in damages to roads alone. Expenditure like this would take anyone for surprise, including seemingly wealthy countries.
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