Hope our Aussie friends are okay

[okarol]

 Deadly storms hit Australian city 'like a quake'

Sun Jun 10, 4:18 PM ET

Rescue workers are urging thousands of people to evacuate their homes after deadly storms lashed Australia's east coast, leaving parts of one city looking like an earthquake had struck, officials said Sunday.

After days of torrential rains, flood waters surged into areas north of Sydney, isolating towns, swamping farms, homes and businesses and causing millions of dollars in damage.

The death toll rose to nine when police found the body of a man who died after he was swept into a storm water drain on a flooded road.

Authorities earlier found the body of a man who died when his car was swept off a highway into a swollen creek.

His wife and three young children, aged two, three and nine, who were travelling with him, also died when the road collapsed underneath them, but their bodies had been found earlier.

Although bringing much-needed rain to Sydney and towns to its north, the storms have wreaked havoc since slamming into the city and the Central Coast and Newcastle to the north on Friday.

Among the dead are a 29-year-old man crushed when a tree fell on his car near Newcastle and a couple who perished when their vehicle was swept off a bridge while crossing a flooded river in the Hunter Valley.

Officials said Newcastle looked as if it had been hit by an earthquake.

"What I saw were parts of Newcastle that resembled the kind of damage that followed the (1989) earthquake," New South Wales state premier Morris Iemma said after visiting the city.

"Construction sites and scaffolding, debris on roads, abandoned cars, homes that were damaged, trees having fallen on homes, extensive damage. It was quite disbelieving," he added.

The 1989 earthquake packed a magnitude of 5.6 and killed 13 people.

Newcastle resident Harry Gregory told The Sunday Telegraph he fled his home after his bed and fridge started to float in the flood waters.

"Everything's ruined," he said. "I have a lounge (sofa) stuck in my front fence and I have got no idea who it belongs to."

Emergency workers evacuated 400 people from their homes along the Central Coast overnight, including by boat and helicopter, and were Sunday urging some 5,000 residents in Maitland, to the north, to seek shelter away from rising flood waters.

State Emergency Services spokesman Steve Delaney said the Hunter River could peak at 11 metres (36 feet) higher than normal later in the day.

"This will meet their predictions. It won't go below. It will meet their predictions by midnight tonight," he told ABC radio.

"So there is a real, clear possibility that the levy might overtop this evening."

Meanwhile, the clean-up began in Newcastle and flood waters were receding in Singleton.

Accompanied by gale force winds, the storms have driven a massive freighter aground in Newcastle, forced the suspension of ferry services in Sydney Harbour and blacked out tens of thousands of homes.

Prime Minister John Howard said those affected by storms and flooding would be entitled to cash payments in addition to natural disaster funding offered by the state government.

"I know I speak for every Australian in saying that the country is thinking of you and we're heartbroken by the loss of lives and the tragic circumstances in which a number of people have lost their lives," he said.

"It is an immense disaster."

Maritime officials said salvage crews were hopeful that the 30,000-tonne vessel Pasha Bulker, still stranded on a Newcastle beach after running aground amid huge seas on Friday, could be refloated as violent conditions eased.

"There's every hope that a plan to safely remove the ship from the beach will be progressed pretty quickly," spokesman Neil Patchett said.

[kitkatz]

Hopw about if our Aussie friends check in here and let us know how they fared?

[charee]

Hey i am about six hours away from all the damage we didn t get anything down away i have friends up there that have been flooded out its being called one of our worse natural disasters the loss of life is very sad

[glitter]

i hope all ihd peoples and families are okay   

[goofynina]

Yes, please all of our friends in the area, please let us know you are ok,  Hi Charee, glad you are ok, hope your friends and family are well also,   

[Earlinda]

Isn't Amanda from Sydney?  I haven't seen her signed in for a little while and that is very unusual for her.  I hope she is okay.

Earlinda

[Wattle]

  Hi Everyone. Amanda was in chat yesterday. Sydney and Melbourne are o.k. Beautiful sunny winters day here. The flooding has only been in the Northern N.S.W area. We have had the worst drought on record and now the farmers have to deal with flooding. Its an awful situation.
The whole country is still on water restrictions.Thank you all for your concern.   

[RichardMEL]

uh well not quite...

I just had a call tonight from Lucinda (yay!) who came home to find part of her house had been flooded by the storms and she lost a lot of applainces and stuff and it's all a bit of mess.. that she's trying to sort out.

I don't think she'd mind too much me reporting that here..

She's OK at least and so are her dogs

[okarol]

Thanks Richard - I was hoping to hear how Lucinda was doing!
 

[Amanda From OZ]

I'm glad everyone is safe. 

The storm did a bot of damage in my neighborhood but everyone is OK and safe.

Thanks Earlinda for asking about me, i have been having a few dramas. but all is OK. 

[kitkatz]

Lucinda it seems to be raining cats and dogs in your life lately.       Here is a hug for you.

[RichardMEL]

Well I am wondering if Lucinda arranged the storms to keep me from visiting to soak up her big screen plasma TV and other goodies!! he he!

Just kidding

It was a lovely surprise to get her call and we had a nice chat.

[Lucinda]

Hey everyone,

Been really frantic over this neck of the woods.  Haven't had time to feel sorry for myself at all.  I just keep laughing at how bloody awful things are at the moment. I was in New Zealand for the weekend so I arrived home on Monday night to disaster.  A large tree across our drive and the security gates unable to be opened as the electricity had gone out.  Climbed the fence, stuff my bad arm and squelched adcross soaking wet carpet in the dark. The ceiling in the media room semi-collapsed and all my clothes soaking.

Best thing about it is that I work for a strata company and we give a lot of tradespeople a lot of work so instead of having to wait two weeks at the end of a line to get the work done, the guys were here first thing on Tuesday morning ripping up the carpets and putting these huge blowers under the carpet to dry them out.  Everything in the fridge went including my medications and things were a bit of a mess really.  Tonight things are back on track and I am now sitting in front of an open fire and catching up here.

I can only think that things can only get better.  I'm fine though.  Still laughing at my bad luck so it can't be all bad.  You guys make life so much easier. I love you all.

PS.....my graft still ain't working.  I am having another transfusion tomorrow so I have the energy to go through it again.  This is so much fun!!!!!!!xxxxxxxx 

[Sluff]

I'm glad everyone is safe. Lucinda you are a trooper.   

[tamara]

Hey

Hey everyone,

Been really frantic over this neck of the woods. Haven't had time to feel sorry for myself at all. I just keep laughing at how bloody awful things are at the moment. I was in New Zealand for the weekend so I arrived home on Monday night to disaster. A large tree across our drive and the security gates unable to be opened as the electricity had gone out. Climbed the fence, stuff my bad arm and squelched adcross soaking wet carpet in the dark. The ceiling in the media room semi-collapsed and all my clothes soaking.

Best thing about it is that I work for a strata company and we give a lot of tradespeople a lot of work so instead of having to wait two weeks at the end of a line to get the work done, the guys were here first thing on Tuesday morning ripping up the carpets and putting these huge blowers under the carpet to dry them out. Everything in the fridge went including my medications and things were a bit of a mess really. Tonight things are back on track and I am now sitting in front of an open fire and catching up here.

I can only think that things can only get better. I'm fine though. Still laughing at my bad luck so it can't be all bad. You guys make life so much easier. I love you all.

PS.....my graft still ain't working. I am having another transfusion tomorrow so I have the energy to go through it again. This is so much fun!!!!!!!xxxxxxxx

Hey Lucinda,

Sorry to here about your troubles, was watching Sunrise this morning (Australian morning Show) and they were saying some people that have been effected  will have trouble with their insurance due to some policies not covering this situation in certain areas.Here's a link to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation covering it

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1948079.htm

Hope you don't have any troubles otherwise give em hell girl !

[Bajanne]

WOW!  It was so good hearing from you, Lucinda!  You are a survivor!!!  You will make it through, no matter what life attempts to throw at you!  How do I know?  Because I am one too.   

[RichardMEL]

I am convinced that Lucinda is awesome and I admire her so much. So much crapola has been thrown her way in the last 6 months and she just battles through it. I think some others would have colpased under the strain at some point.

You rock Lucinda xox

[okarol]

Hi Lucinda, I hope things get better soon.
You're one tough cookie, but enough already!
Love you,
Karol 

[goofynina]

Hey Lucinda,  Girrrrrrl, you amaze me, with all that is going on, i am so glad to see that you keep on keepin on my friend,  you hang in there, it will get better  

[Lucinda]

Thank you everyone.  You are all so terrific.  The house is starting to look like it is getting back to normal.  Just waiting for the insurance guys to come as the carpets are stretched beyond redemption I think so we'll wait and see what they have to say but it is just bricks and mortar and while I am still breathing, I am still living - as Goofy would say - so what have I got to complain about.  RichardMel is terrific and great to talk to...so supportive....I wish he would get off his backside though and work out how he can come to Vegas.  Bet he is sorry he ever gave me his mobile number!!! Love that boy.  Got to find him a nice girl.  Have my thinking cap on.

It is one of those wake up and face the world days with a smile on the face so everything here is peaches and cream this morning.  Gee, I was even singing and grooving in the shower this morning so life ain't too bad.  Oh....I forgot to tell you....I swapped my Lexus sportscar for a Lexus fourwheel drive.  Someone tried to carjack me at the lights in the sportscar last week and it scared me so much it turned me against the car so I immediately went back to Lexus and did a swap for a more practical set of wheels.  Strangely enough, it has worked out for the best.  I prefer the new car because my dogs can now go everywhere with me and they are much more comfortable in this car so that is actually one thing that has gone well. I know, I am a bit 

Anyhow, loving you all Hold tight for the next instalement.  My life at the moment just cracks me up 

[charee]

Hey Cindy great to see your doing alright bugger about the damage to your beautiful house hope it all gets sorted out soon, you will love your 4 wheel drive i love ours Take care


Charee

[Bajanne]

Thanks for sharing with us.  You are quite a person and please know that we love you.

[Lucinda]

The weather here again today is scary!!!  The rain and winds are horrendous again.  We are in emergency mode in most areas of Sydney and already over 15.000 emergency calls around Sydney particularly around our area.  Gale warnings are high but it is expected to ease tomorrow.  We just had the carpet cleaners here to stretch all the carpets and clean them so hope we don't flood again.  Have a great weekend.  Love Cindy. xxxx

[Sluff]

Well i hope you don't get wet again. ** fingers Crossed**

[Amanda From OZ]

Unfortunately for members on the NSW Coast of australia the storms are back. They are due in about midnight and are far more dangerous. I hope the rest of our NSW members stay safe. 

Amanda
xxoo

"NSW Braces for savage storms"
19-06-07
www.news.com.au

EMERGENCY crews stand ready tonight as residents of New South Wales coastal areas brace for what threatened to be the most dangerous of three major storms to hit the state this month.

Cyclonic winds up to 125km/h and huge waves are forecast to batter the coastline from tonight and into tomorrow, starting at Moruya in the state's south and moving north.

Forecasters warned of cyclone-strength winds whipped up by an intense low pressure system.

Emergency Services Minister Nathan Rees said residents of coastal areas as far north as Smoky Cape, on the state's mid-north coast, should expect a return of the severe weather that has already prompted NSW households to make 18,000 calls to the State Emergency Service (SES) this month.

Climate consultancy company Weatherzone said the state should brace for its "third, and possibly strongest lashing in the space of a fortnight".

Authorities  have opened an emergency call centre to handle the deluge of information calls expected..

"The Public Information and Inquiry Centre has been stood up in support of the State Emergency Service," a NSW police spokesman said today.pe"Should members of the public require information about the storm they can contact the ... centre."

The phone number is 1800 227 228 (1800 227 228).

The Roads and Traffic Authority is calling for motorists to stay off the roads during the high winds and rain expected to hit Sydney from 10pm (AEST).

"As the best of times, wet weather reduces visibility and increases stopping distances," a spokesman said.

"Tonight and into tomorrow there will be extreme wind and very heavy rain ... motorists should make only essential trips."

Traffic information is also available by calling 132 701 (132 701).

Premier Morris Iemma, paying tribute to the 3000 emergency services members who had worked in the Hunter, Central Coast and throughout Sydney during last week's wild weather, said the state already faced huge damage costs.

"Estimates are that the damage bill will ultimately top $1 billion, larger than either the (1999) Sydney hailstorm or the (1989) Newcastle earthquake," he said.

Mr Rees said emergency services were preparing for conditions comparable with the 1999 hailstorm and the storm which struck on the Queen's Birthday long weekend earlier this month.

He said "winds the equivalent of cyclonic force" would heighten the danger of falling trees.

"It's particularly dangerous as lots of tree roots have been loosened during the severe weather of the last week," Mr Rees said.

"The ground's damp, which means the trees are a lot more likely to fall over in the event of severe winds.

"I have been advised that NSW emergency services are ready to respond to the severe conditions despite the tremendous demands on volunteers and resources over the past 12 days.

"Strike teams (are) on standby for immediate deployment to assist with clean-up, evacuation and flash flood relief work in storm-damaged areas.

"I urge householders to take precautions now to prepare their homes ahead of the extreme winds and heavy rain tonight."

A command centre was being set up in Sydney, buses were being placed on standby and extra staff were being deployed to NSW rail services in case of storm-related disruption to trains.

The winds were predicted to build in Sydney from around 10pm (AEST) and to peak between 2am and 3am.

RailCorp warned that if there were major disruptions, buses would not be able to provide normal peak hour capacity tomorrow morning.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service also announced the 24-hour closure of popular areas within national parks in the Blue Mountains area, west of Sydney.

Following the rescue of backpacking campers during the earlier storms, bushwalkers have been advised to postpone all back-country travel until conditions improve.

NSW Maritime was urging boat owners to secure their boats and stay off the water from later today.

"Warnings have gone out and vessels are seeking safety, and for large vessels and ships that means standing further offshore and for smaller recreational craft it means not going out at all," spokesman Neil Patchet said.

The SES urged people who must be outside to keep clear of fallen trees and powerlines, never walk or drive through floodwater, and stay clear of creeks, storm drains, culverts and causeways.

The storm will make beaches dangerous, and people were warned to stay out of the sea and any areas exposed to surf.