So in case you hadn't heard we've had a bit of rain here. The latest news is that Brisbane River has broken it's banks at Brisbane City. All public transport has been stopped.

On a personal note I and my family are doing ok. The only concerns are one aunt who I believe is being evacuated at this moment and my four day old niece. The only concern there is that she is supposed to be being released today and traffic is quite bad. Worst case: She and parents will stay at the hospital.

I keep going to post an update but I just can't find the words.

This article/video might give you an idea or if you are on twitter try #qldfloods

At the moment it's a bit surreal and I don't know where to start. All the volunteer places are turning people away because they can't manage the huge amounts of people they already have. I'm working today and tonight but will be looking for more volunteer places Thursday night. By then I might be needed at a friends place to help them clean up and possibly locate my Sergey Lukyanenko tetralogy which I'd lent them.

The whole "volunteers being turned away" reminds me of when I was in LA after Katrina (I was there on a paying gig, but I digress).

If I was a praying man you would be in them.

I remember that story. That was for red tape issues though right? I think that sucked a whole lot.

Though I'm not a praying man I appreciate that.

For you interest: The flooded area overlaid on USA

Arggh ... what I was really hoping wouldn't happen, has. The treatment facilities upstream have broke down. Now the clean-up will involve raw sewerage.

That's bigger than my entire state... and yeah, it was 100% red tape.

I was hearing it was the size of NM and TX together, so I'm actually relieved to see it's so small.

That's just this particular flooded area ... there is another picture which shows effected area and there are more floods down south. also I don't think the person who has done this is being very accurate but I couldn't find another.

Good to hear you're safe and with power. I've been directing a lot of Queenslanders to my bank's hardship group this morning, there's going to have to be a huge rebuilding after all this is over. Of course, when "over" is going to happen is still an open question at this point. The worst is almost certainly still to come, alas.

As for those who want to see just what a flood is capable of, Here's a video of the river breaking it's banks in Toowoomba, which both fascinated and horrified me.

Take care Steave!
Also, is it weird Aussie pride that makes me proud that there isn't a natural disaster we can't make worse with our wildlife?

I, for one, am relieved to learn that it isn't only the United States and "Third World" countries that can sustain massive, devastating floods without being able to clean up and provide adequate relief. I also hope that the casualties are kept to a minimum, because there is enough sadness and despair in the world already.

Obviously the solution to the shark problem is a cadre of specially-trained SCUBA kangaroos.

Armed with spears slathered with Sydney Funnel-Web Spider Venom.

No no no. That will work on the sharks, but won't do any good for the crocs. The spear tips need the venom of taipans, which should kill both. Then all you have to hope is that they don't encounter any stingers. Or platypi.

That's why you use the croc skins for armor!

Ok. The water is receding and the clean-up begins. I expect to be very tired soon.