Queensland today is in a state of crisis with unprecedented flooding throughout much of the state . 

Many towns and communities have been  inundated and others  evacuated  , with loss of life , homes and livestock  reported in many areas .

To the Northwest of Brisbane , the regions’  largest dam is currently at a capacity of 170% , and expected to reach 200% which exhausts al l flood mitigation capacity . Record breaking rain continues to fall in the catchments,  with even more forecast. 
Less than 18 months ago that dam was at a disastrous low of 20%.

Brisbane is on flood alert with evacuation plans in place for many areas .
Toowoomba  ( home to one of our largest annual enamel signs auctions ) has suffered a major flash flood  , the likes of which has not been seen before.
It is truly horrifying to see the News  footage of that.

I have many  friends and colleagues in the region.
I  have heard from quite a few , but can not contact others . I can only hope that they and their families are safe .

As I write , it has been announced that the Brisbane River has burst  it’s banks in the CBD  of the City and many High rises are being voluntarily evacuated.
Doesn’t look good , as the river levels  are sure to rise further with flow on from the already flooded catchments upstream and all the Dam gates remaining open due to the inflow . To top it off a King tide is expected tomorrow, and the rain continues to belt down
 

To the South of Brisbane ( although saturated ,and our dam also overflowing  ) , we have been spared the worst of it ,but  have many roads and causeways closed. 
My wife may have to stay in town today as our Causeway is likely to go under this afternoon 

We are fairly high in the hills so probably safe , but our thoughts are with those who are in very serious trouble all around us .

Relics

( From a thoroughly saturated Queensland, Australia  )

My dogs swim here most days:

I live in a riverside village and we normally kop for it after snowmelt or heavy rain, but absolutely nothing like whats happening down under, seems to be of biblical proportions seeing it on the news, and the thousands of people affected have my upmost sympathy. Unfortunately there is very little that can be done with the staggering volume of rain water coming down, but it must be heart breaking to see all you have being inundated.

Hi there.

That's terrible news. The first I have properly seen of it.

We used to be the most flooded town in the UK until they built the flood barriers.

My thoughts go out to all peeps and creatures who are affected.

Al.

PS. The weather is properly all over the place. The river Severn that flows through our town froze for teh first time since 1870 a few weeks back.