how'z the situation for our australian slippertalkers with the floods ?

[cliokchi]

Hi Aussie members,

we all have been seeing the last few days the news reports on the TV via CNN &
BBC about the horrendous floods in queensland and east Australia
as I remember clearly Towoomba had 2 orchid nurseries Woolf orchid culture and Florafest ,
john robertson and many orchid hobbyist and nurseries that I'm not aware of,
can anybody from Downunder update us about effect of the flooding on orchid people in Australia.
our thoughts go out to all victims of the Australian flooding !
respect cliokchi

 

[NYEric]

yes, best wishes. post up when you can.

 

[Erythrone]

Best wishes

 

[cattmad]

Hi Guys,

thank you for your concern, Luckily the rain has now eased, but the flooding is still coming down from the mountains and should arrive today and tomorrow. I think the news will get worse. I have never seen the rain intensity we had on monday. Many people who OK now at least have some time save their valuables, most affected in toowoomba and at the bottom of the range lost everything.

Luckily I am high and dry, but I work in the city and was told to evacuate at lunch time yesterday as the had shutdown the train and bus network to my area. I had to catch a cab to my where I had parked my car, only to find the last road to where I live under water. Police would not let ayone drive through, so I had to park my car and wade through waist high water for about 100m and then call my wife to come and pick me up. I think we will be cutoff for a few days.

Brad

 

[NYEric]

Careful and good luck.

 

[hchan]

Yeah the rains have been pretty devastating, so far mostly in Queensland (though northern NSW is starting to have a hard time too). It's been going on for about a month now and it still hasn't stopped... Toowoomba being the hardest hit, I still can't quite get over this photo:

Photo: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

Brisbane River broke its banks in certain parts this morning, so parts of Brisbane have started to flood. They've even issued a flood watch for South Australia, though the water from Queensland will take some 8 weeks to get there.

I don't personally know how the various orchid guys are doing, but hopefully others will have more news. The few paph nurseries in the Brisbane area aren't close to Brisbane River as far as I know.

Hubert

 

[biothanasis]

Good luck to all!!! I hope for the best!!

 

[Paph_LdyMacBeth]

Thinking of everyone. I just hate seeing things like this.

 

[emydura]

Just amazing scenes. The sight of cars being washed down the main street of Toowoomba was mindblowing. I see the Brisbane dam is at 190% capacity. Lets hope the engineers got that one right.

I think Woolf Orchids would be fine as they are located high up, so they wouldn't be vulnerable to floods. I got an email from John Robertson today about an order I made, so I assume he must be fine. Do Florafest still exist? I didn't think so. I'm not sure about anyone else.

This rain seems to have been going on for months now. We copped it a few weeks ago with Queenbeyan in particular suffering floods similar to Queensland. Not quite as bad though.

I think the drought of 10 years has finally broken.

David

 

[hchan]

I think Ivan and Ken (from two paph nurseries in Brisbane) should both be fine too as they're not close to the river. Yes that Wivenhoe Dam had bloody well hold!!

 

[Yoyo_Jo]

Sending positive thoughts & prayers your way. Take care you guys.

 

[hchan]

Just heard from Ivan and he's fine; very very wet but no flooding. He's also been in touch with David Woolf; where he and his parents live and have their nursery, everyone and everything is fine. As David (emydura) says they're on a high bit, which helps!

 

[SlipperFan]

Thanks for updating us, Aussie friends! And thanks, cliokchi for expressing what I had been wondering this morning. I cannot imagine such flooding, and for so long a time and so large an area.

 

[JeanLux]

Looking at all of those dramatic pics, I just can hope that all of you are ok and that you do not get material damage!!!! Jean

 

[emydura]

John Robertson told me he is up on a hill so he is fine. He said he has not seen the sun for weeks nor rain like it.

Crikey Brad. That sounded pretty hairy. You have more guts than me.

I think Brad and Jim are the only two Australians on the forum from the Brisbane area.

David

 

[cattmad]

I'm just hoping my ute will be still where I parked it.

I only did what I had to do to get home, my family are the most important thing. There were police at the area and were allowing people to cross

Brad

 

[goldenrose]

Sending positive thoughts & prayers your way. Take care you guys.

Me too!
Just can't imagine, I'm feeling awful fortunate about now, the east continues to get battered with snow, the Carolinas & area ice storms... not off to a good start for the new year.

 

[cnycharles]

yikes! glad you made it across the river, but don't think the police should have allowed anyone to go through it. people have been killed here trying to cross with cars admittedly, water less deep than that. good luck to everyone involved, and stay sideways or upstream from any dams!

 

[Shiva]

Hang in there guys and good luck. Shows that you can never tell what Mother Nature has in store for us.

 

[etex]

Stay safe! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all!!