The floods that have devastated a number of inland Queensland towns and severely disrupted the travel plans of many are certainly not over yet.
Indeed, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, despite the fact that a swathe of towns have been hit by record volumes of water tearing across the state’s southwest, the worst could be yet to come. While some Mitchell and Roma residents have been trying to return to their flood-ravaged homes St George is being being evacuated as it stares down the barrel of a record flood.
The Moonie Highway is now closed as police report water is over the road. The majority of residents have already evacuated, with the remaining 400 people to be helped out from the showgrounds this morning. Special evacuation flights are being organised.
The Maranoa River, which tore through Mitchell and Roma last week, displacing hundreds of people and destroying low-lying homes, is now expected to join with the already flooded Balonne River, creating a devastating flood.
According to a warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, St George is expected to reach the March 2010 flood level (13.4m) this morning and continue rising, to possibly above 14m tomorrow and Wednesday.
Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, said with the possibility that the river could reach 15m, there was no option but to order the compulsory evacuation.
“This is very distressing time. They had a flood in 2010, a flood in 2011 and now a record flood that means the evacuation of their town,” she said.” I think the hearts and thoughts of all Queenslanders will be with them in the next couple of days.”
Extra police are being brought in to keep watch over the deserted town and to prevent looting.
The floods have already claimed one victim. The body of a woman, believed to be that of missing mother, Jane Sheahan, was found in floodwaters in Roma yesterday.
The SMH says Roma residents are starting to return to their flooded homes now and a mud army is being organised to help speed the clean-up. Nearby township Mitchell also faces a long, hard rebuild.
With other devastating Queensland floods still fresh in our minds, our thoughts are with those who are suffering at the hands of Mother Nature yet again.
Last time around, grey nomads played a significant role in helping to get struggling rural economies back up and running and hopefully will be able to do the same this time around.
