Flooding

It’s still raining again here in Kununurra.

Vas and I headed to the pub on Friday, for a drink after work (his work.. not mine).  It was sunny and lovely out but we had hardly started our first brew when it started to rain. 

“We should probably move,” Vas suggested. 

We were sitting outside, which I love, especially as we live in an apartment.  I remembered how surprised he was at our Vancouver rain, the never ending wet, and decided no, I had learned that the rains here are showers. 

“It’ll stop,” I replied, not budging.  It was hot, a little sunny and the rain actually felt good.

He sat back down, a little uncertainly.  He was sitting looking out at the black sky, I was watching a group play pool and was rather taken aback when the it started to rain harder.. and harder.. and the wind picked up and we had to run for cover: from the dust, the rain, the tree branches.. the torn canvas cover..

We had gone for a beer, but the weather was wild and it was three drinks later before we were finally back in the sunshine.  Trees had been toppled, the streets were covered in broken shrubbery and water was streaming from everywhere.

It’s been raining pretty steadily since I got back here before Christmas.

Today there is another cyclone forming just north of us and we are expecting flooding this weekend.   

But it’s nothing like Queensland. 

They are having a rough go of it right now. 

The death toll is at 9 right now and there are 59 people missing and it’s still raining. 

Mom tells me the area that’s flooded is the size of B.C., or France and Spain together… or Texas and California: something for everyone.  And the flooded area is growing all the time: Brisbane is now holding its breath.   

People are talking about the big flood of ’74 when the Brisbane river broke it’s banks and 9 people drowned.  That was in January too and cost 200,000,000$ in ‘74$’s. 

This flood has surpassed that one already, and it is just starting in Brizzy. They are not expecting a good night tonight, and the week doesn’t look too good either.  They are expecting 6,500 homes and business to flood..

There was a flash flood alert for Cairns today so I got hold of Kim.  She is on the sea, but away from the river and sounds fine.  She has stocked up with groceries.  Says the shops are a bit low on supplies but all seems ok. 

And then there are the fires in Perth…