It never rains but it pours......

Hello from the QLD, home of floods, insane rainfall and now, cyclones. Just after people were getting over the floods, and some are still a way away from 'getting over' them, two major things have happened:

1. Julia Gillard has created a tax flood levy to pay for the Queensland rebuild. It constitutes 0.5% of annual wages if you make between $50-100k and 1% if you make over $100k. People are very much 50/50 about this. It seems that if you live in Queensland, you are happy with it, but if you live in any other state of Australia, then you are not at all happy for the most part (about 68% at the moment are not willing to pay it). Many people still feel that a disaster fund for any possible future event is the way forward and the way to pay for QLD.

This has meant that Gillard has gone from great leader to a money grabbing scoundrel quite quickly!Team this with her late response to the plight of Australians in Egypt and she has not had a great week. In a direct comparison, the approval rating of Anna Bligh, QLD premier, continues to rise because of her response to:

2. Tropical cyclone Jasi!The latest addition to the wild weather summer that Queensland is experiencing is expected to hit land late wednesday or early thursday. It has been said it could be the worst cyclone ever to hit QLD, tropical QLD particularly, coming in at a category 4 cyclone, winds of up to 230 km/h and torrential rainfall hitting tourist areas such as the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach and up and around Townsville. The weather system could extend 500km and take in large swathes of the state that have already been affected by the floods and reflood many areas that were very badly hit. I really do feel for everyone involved and it really is a shocker for tropical Queensland.

In other news, I was offered a year's contract in the primary school that I worked in in Ipswich, the quite hard school. I turned it down for the reason that even for me, a two and a half hour commute each way to work is a little excessive, but I must have done something right whilst I was there!haha.

I will update everyone after Thursday's expected landfall and here is hoping that it fades away in the Coral sea and merely becomes a whisper of rain over the next few days!

You have to love relevant graffitti. Found in Brisbane.

Flood update- with added Oprah

I have just returned from a 5 day excursion down to Melbourne(melbourne rebels first ever match, eng vs aus odi @mcg and 2 days of aussie open with a bbc sport appearance after catching murrays sweatband!) to visit friends so have been unable to help out with the flood rebuild, but I thought I would update you on what has gone on.

The clean up is going well, many places are completely free of water now and the altruistic nature of the public and especially big business is coming to the fore through many donations of items by large companies to people who have been particularly badly hit.

The local transport systems have been completely free for the last week and a half, which has been an excellent idea as many are still struggling to reach certain areas of the city and as the public transport system is very wide ranging in Brisbane, I believe it has helped thousands out in a time of need.

Being in Victoria over the last few days has allowed me to see another state's appreciation of the floods and it was very generous, incredible scenes of fundraising, lots of examples at the australian open tennis of people willing to give large sums of money (the cynic in me may think that this may have something to do with the social demographic of tennis fans!) and lots of people just giving what they can!

There is a king tide expected tomorrow morning, which is likely to re flood some areas, a hammer blow to some people who have literally just managed to get their homes emptied of water.

The impact of Oprah Winfrey on the floods is the most surprising factor. Oprah came over to Oz a few months ago to film some show and excursions, which are now being shown both here and in the US. These shows have had flood disaster starts to them and segments where Oprah has explained what has happened. QLD premier Anna Bligh reported today that after the first show had been aired in the US, the donations jumped $20 million overnight. The incredible luck and coincidence that airing these shows at this times is having a majpr effect on the image of QLD and the flood donations. It is crazy to think that it has been said that once a book is endorsed by the big O, then it will become a bestseller that week, and the same it can be said is happening with the donations to the flood appeal.

An interesting side note- what would happen if the shows had been about Brazil and Rio, would there be an appeal or the same amount of public donations?Is it fair that Brazil does not have the media outlet that Australia does at the moment, albeit luck in terms of timing?

There is a song by Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip that mentions that as much attention should be paid to disasters in non English speaking countries as to those in English speaking countries and there is a case, although the floods here have been awful here, that those in Brazil have killed more people and what truly measures the scale of a disaster, financial cost or loss of life?

The clean up in Brisbane continues and unfortunately, the Lockyer valley is expecting yet more flash flooding in an area that was devastated by the floods and my thoughts are with the people whose homes are still there and those that have been forced to move away. All the best guys!

The day after the flood

Here are a few pictures from the day after the flood, bear these points in mind-

The media coverage is extensive, hence the helicopters.

People were told at length not to enter flood waters.

The flood peak was a metre less than predicted.

I am in one of the least affected areas and cannot reach the worst areas.Cannot reach any areas really.

Most of the pictures should have a walkway in them, except they are either 6 foot under water or have been washed away!

More pictures to follow.

Being in a flood.

Let's be honest, I am very lucky, I happen to currently live in a fifth floor apartment about 20-30 metres from the hugely swollen Brisbane river and there is no chance of me actually being flooded but I feel so bad that stranded as I am, I can't help those far less fortunate than myself, Interestingly, many of the people affected are actually some of the most wealthy in the city.

So as a Geographer, I feel obliged to let everyone know what's going on and how it is shaping people:

Causes of the flood:

Huge rainfall over 3 catchment areas which for the most part lead through the Lockyer valley and into the Bremer and Brisbane rivers- directly hitting Ipswich and Brisbane.

Years of drought (11 in total) before this year.

Incredibly slow moving storm front which dumped 250mm of rain into Wyvernhoe Dam over a 3 hour period.

Dam at 178-190% of capacity therefore floodgates opened, releasing more water into the river. Water size of Darling harbour flowing towards brisbane city.

Tidal river swelled by 2 large King tides (thursday and wednesday)

Torrential rain on Tuesday flowed quickly into river due to increased surface run off from development in Brisbane city and saturation of farmland outside the city.Prior flooding over Xmas in regional Queensland.

La Nina weather system-opposite to El Nino, starts with lower than normal water temperature.

Possibility that many homeowners had little or no knowledge of what to do in a flood due to the influx of inter state and overseas buyers over the last 15 years. However, not many people are truly clear on what to do in a flood.

Effects:

50 Suburbs of Brisbane affected. Worst being Yeronga, Fairfield, Chelmer.

8m wall of water decimates Toowoomba, 2 hrs west of Brisbane.(aka Land tsunami)

13 deaths confirmed, although none in Brisbane city as of yet.

60-70 missing persons

many more not reported.

Communications (mobile networks) and electricity down in Brisbane CBD and 32 other suburbs- approx 70,000 without power in SE QLD

Flood level up to gutters in Ipswich

Many tourist sites (Lagoon, south bank, parklands) inundated.

No costing suggested

readjusted 5.24m peak of Brisbane river predicted early thurs morning, Ipswich peak at 20.5m. Both are just lower than the 1974 flood levels.

Transport routes ruined. Roads inundated, trains delayed and flooded, ferry cancelled.

Pontoons and boats swept down river out to sea, many stolen from the river.

Some looting in Ipswich.

Incredibly strong current, dragging huge items of debris the river.

Brisbane CBD evacuated

3000 homes in Ipswich inundated.

Floods extend over NSW border (Clarence river).

Many of the most expensive riverfront properties in Brisbane underwater.

Raw sewage leak into the Brisbane river- possible Ecoli in River upstream.

Suncorp Staduim-Icon of Queensland sport- under 5 feet of water.

1 million sq km disaster zone designated-larger than Katrina.

Thousands of people get too close to river to take photos, State Premier Bligh makes distinct point of this in press conference.

Despite warnings, people still taken by surprise, therefore many having to wade to get possessions out of homes. Bearing in mind, whole scenario unfolded in around 24-48 hrs for many.

Many needless triple 0 calls including several people just wanting help lifting furniture.

Mos Def cancels only show in the North of Australia.Major personal disappointment.

Several older generation do not believe it will reach 1974 levels, firm belief in their own memory- a good thing?Long chat with a mining executive who would not have it that it will rise that much!

Drift restaurant breaks moorings and floats away and crashes into bridges.

All debris floating into Moreton Bay-a busy shipping area.

Huge amount of silt in the river, washing away of good top soil up river-possibility of terrible soil for re farming of areas after clean up.

Wicked musical cancelled- biggest performing arts event of the year.

Police man most stretches of river and water and patrol the river itself, pushing against the strong current.

Responses:

Areas evacuated (many suburbs, particularly CBD).

Flooding from earlier in the week only able to be dealt with in terms of saving the stranded after weather abated on Wednesday.

State wide emergency zone declared, allows police to forcibly remove tenants if in danger.

Telethons (primarily for regional floods originally but extended for Brisbane)

Evacuation camps established at EKKA showground/RNA showground, capacity of 3000 people.

Private collections of food, clothes and toys made and handed to the evacuation camps.

Red Cross, Salvation army, St Johns help in all areas.

Red Cross database set up to find information about families/friends.

Sandbag pick up zones created at pivotal areas (Morningside rugby club personally collected bags and delivered to areas around Morningside)

Social media input through announcements about flood levels, where to go, camp location etc.

Help offered by several countries, personnel accepted from NZ.

Kevin Rudd helping out residents in his constituency-carrying a piano and wearing an adidas tracksuit.

So many volunteers, volunteering QLD website crashed.

SES responders spread all over the state, mostly using helicopters to get to stranded people.

Lord mayor encourages people to hold off volunteering until the clean up starts.

Businesses left deserted.

Many people who want to help (myself included) can't due to the nature of the lack of transport options.

Mosquito population spikes and risk of Dengue and Ross River fever, especially in regional QLD.

Massive community emphasis, neighbours helping each other. A point mentioned by many people I have talked to.Especially younger generations, who seem to really want to help out those in trouble.

There are probably a lot more things I have forgotten and I will try to update it, but I hope that it will help people to understand and hopefully to use it in lessons if they feel it necessary! I have included some photos as well!

Hope everyone is well!And I will try to get a few more photos tomorrow morning!

Also, check out these websites

http://www.couriermail.com.au/

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/6500-brisbane-properties-to-flood-mayor-20110111-19m63.html

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/8618853/brisbane-residents-prepare-for-flooding/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2011/01/11/3110273.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_nina

Love that Job

This year, I have effectively had two rather weighty summer holidays. In no way is this a bad thing. What has slightly worried is that I am still planning lessons, looking for ideas, websites and resources that once I have a clearer focus of the aspects of Geography I will be teaching in the future, I can mould into tight little resources.

I have always told people who have asked me that I really like my job. In fact on most occasions, I tell them that I actually love my job. Which is a big claim coming from a man who is notoriously non plussed by many things in life!Over the course of my NQT year, I was guilty of having a little moan every now and again but now I realise that I was mostly just appeasing many who moaned around me because I loved it. Being away from a scenario often makes people reassess those experiences and I have done that immensely, I love being a teacher and not just, as many people assume about our profession, for the reason outlined in my first sentence.

Why work so hard to do something you don't necessarily enjoy that much, I have worked my backside off to be in a profession and do a job that I love and hopefully will continue to love for the majority of my career.

To use a phrase that I have heard a great deal in Oz, Props to all teachers, but especially the geographers around the world!