I decided to start a new thread to answer the question about the floods, so as not to have a sad cloud hang over the wonders, but I hope it's OK that I not write too much about the floods today..... it's just too horific to think about with 12 dead and over a hundred missing, feared drowned.

I'm sorry Tammiloo but Toowoomba has been hit the worst with most of the dead (so far), coming from there. The city got hit by a flash flood with an inland tsunami of over 24 foot high, and people were just swept away.

Large parts of our 3rd largest city (Brisbane) is under water .... with only roof tops showing, and they're expected to disappear soon. The floods encompass 4 states at the moment with a 5th expected to be affected over the next few days.

I'm sorry .... but it's too distressing to talk about at the moment, but here's a news site with videos for you to look at. http://au.news.yahoo.com/local/qld/

sending prayers for all those affected by this horrible flooding..... it's such a helpless feeling.

Oh the videos are wrenching Koala...so much devastation!

Today's videos are different to those of yesterday, but the destruction is just as bad! Different days, different cities.... but the devastation is just as severe.

If there's anything good about today then it would be the numbers of those on the missing list has shortened. 50 previously unaccounted for people have now been found and rescued, and they're only searching for 43 people who are still missing. Please pray for those 43.

Sadly several small children have lost their lives and in some cases several members of the same family.

The flood waters are rising very rapidly in Brisbane with thousands of houses now swamped. The water level is not expected to peak for about another 6 hours and by then it will be approx 6 meters (20 feet) above normal levels. You have to see it with your own eyes to believe what's happening, as it's almost unimaginable.

If loss of human life isn't enough, it's heart breaking to see the cattle and the horses struggling to survive in the water. On TV, we saw some horses trying to save their own lives by climbing onto the rooves of houses that were just visible above the flood waters. Sadly those rooves may not be above water for long.

Heavy rain is continuing to fall all down the east coast and all states from the top to the tiny island at the bottom, are now flooded, or under flood alert. More rain is forecast, so nore flooding is expected.

(((( Koala )))))
my prayers are being said.

Thank you so much Anne for the info...update...I know its not easy for you to talk about. Just know that Australia holds a dear part of our hearts...praying for all...

Aw This makes me so sad and worried.... May God help everybody in need there soon !!!

Prayers your way dear Oz...

Australia is in the hearts of all Canadians... it is the top news story... as we all watch helplessly... nature is our enemy at this time... our resources need to go towards working with nature... not against it...

(((Anne))) I'm so sorry. Prayers.

I just don't know how to update this thread because it hurts too much to write about it.

The flood waters are slowly receding in some areas of Queensland .... another whole city (Ipswich) is under water.... and other areas are already bracing themselves for a second onslaught.

67 separate areas are now flooded and 15 people have been confirmed dead over the past 4 days. Many, many people still on the missing list

There's no electricity and no drinking water in many areas. What drinking water is available is already contaminated, and with no electricity, people can't boil the water to make it drinkable. Many have no food.... no basic supplies and no way to get them until roads/airports/ and rail roads can re-open.

Some have spent 11, 12, and some even more hours on their rooftops holding onto family members to keep them from sliding into the water as they wait to be rescued. Some of them overnight in the dark.

Some entire families are missing.

And........ there's a cyclone brewing!

Cyclones bring heavy rain and destructive winds. Think Hurricane Katrina.

Here's an updated news site for those who are interested, and please remember that the video top right is pictures of downtown CBD of our 3rd largest city...... and not a small outback town where flooding might be expected. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland