Savage Storm
 

On Sunday night, a massive storm cell passed over Brisbane and the southeast region of my home state.

Over 4000 homes have been damaged structurally and so far 30 have been condemned.

Fortunately all we got in our area was beautiful drenching rain which has continued over the last couple of days, but it's a disaster for so many people.

Here's a photo gallery from the local paper, and this is the weblink for the articles on the devastation.

In Northeast US, the savage storm is called a nor'ester. What is the description of a savage Aussy storm?

savage storm

Wicked. I'm so glad you all are OK!

In that photo gallery, the damage looks very much like it was caused by microbursts.

The damage map also matches the profile of a couple of microbursts.

:lol2:

You got mean rain, we got fires dotted all around us. Smoke from the fires is hazing the horizon around all points of the compass except due north. Numerous houses destroyed. Some injuries, no deaths IIRC. Touch wood. Preferably wood that is not on fire.

The worst of the storm cut a path through the Gold Coast hinterland which isn't indicated on the damage map, and continued north through the western suburbs. The reason there's those two particular areas noted is because they're really the highest density population. I don't know if they were microburst or not. What I do know is that the damage has been compared to that of a bad cyclone which is our equivalent of your hurricanes.

We've now also had a housefire after a resident who was cooking dinner when the power failed and last night when it came back on at about 6:30 and no one was there, the kitchen caught on fire.

It's quite terrible what the people are going through in the area. We're giving to the relief fund, but I wish there was more I could do. I thought of loading my car up with pizza's and just delivering them to the road crews or something, but that seemed a bit ostentatious, not to mention that I might get in the way anyway.

Anyway, there's only 1000 homes without power now, so that's a pretty good effort. The PM has already toured the area and the Premier (our equivalent of a governor) and the Mayor of course.

My heart goes out to the people affected by this tragedy. So many people have lost their homes. Luckily, it's unusual for people in Australia not to insure their homes, so most will at least have something to begin again with.

ETA: Oh and we had another 3 inches or more of rain last night on some of the affected areas. Not good.

I thought Australians called that a party.

Well I guess you thought wrong then tw.

Are you sure they don't call such storms Aliantha?

Yes...I'm pretty sure about that.

eta: Are you trying to be cute with me tw?

I don't have to try. I have the cutest black face you ever saw.

My Uncle and family are in Brisbane, so we've been following the news. Really shocked to hear about how hard it's hit. Good for you that you were considering on the ground help - I'd say if you could do it - do, do it. But you're pregnant, have kids and Dazza is away - funds are the best you can do in my opinion.

Glad you and yours are safe - I mentioned you to Mum as soon as we heard (I'm always hazy on where people are in Oz due to the HUGE geography). I also mentioned UG when I heard of the California fires, but the news (perhaps incorrectly) implied it was the multi million pound households that were going up - my sympathy to them of course, but they are far better suited to starting again than the average man in the street.