I’ve pulled together various bits of communications that happened throughout the week to show how in amongst the turmoil in Queensland, my dad kept in touch with me, my mom was in hospital, how new clients called and current clients kept appointments, how I had to cancel a class I was teaching, how an ex-husband’s birthday happened, and how friends and relatives all over the world wanted to know how I was being affected.
These short emails, text messages and Face Book shares highlight how a week can begin completely normally with heavy rains, and end with millions of peoples lives forever changed along with a 5 billion dollar price tag.
MONDAY
Monday, 10/01/11 10:04 a.m.Christmas is over and we’re all getting back into life. The rains though continue to put a damper on movement. It's only been sunny two days since New Years, which Queenslanders aren't used to. Feels more like Vancouver than Brisbane!
4:41 p.m.I am so glad you're there with mom as she comes out of the operating room. She sent a Skype message earlier today, but I was on with a client call so couldn't take it. I know all will be well but it gives me some solace knowing you're there with her. Give her a big hug for me when she comes out of the recovery room fog.
The rain keeps falling and it just won’t let up. We went to our local Woolworths to stock up on milk and a few vegetables, just in case roads get cut off because of the rain. I felt silly doing it, but apparently in 1974, when the last flood occurred it was 10 days before the shops could open again.
TUESDAY
Tuesday, 11/1/11 11:58 a.m.Your email regarding Wednesday night meditation class was forwarded to me yesterday. You would be most welcome to join us tomorrow - no worries that you missed last week.
It would be lovely to see you in Class!
11:59 a.m.Hey, where are you? Are you in Perth?
Flooding is getting bad in Brisbane - parts of West End are being evacuated. Brisbane River is rising. Bulimba is also being affected.
12:52Looks like the rain is cutting off highways in and out of Brisbane in all directions. Thoughts of seeing if Josh would like to help in the sand bagging effort if it’s needed somewhere in Brisbane.
1:06 p.m.
Give me, Oh God,
Deep thoughts
High dreams
Few words
Much silence
The narrow path
The wide outlook
The end in peace.
Amen
- Hazrat Inayat Khan
10:41 p.m.Been a tough day here in Brisbane. River waters rising hourly. Rain pelting down almost non-stop. The dam supplying the city is at 173% (???) capacity, and they have to let water out of the dam for fear it too will burst. Apparently the dam has two compartments, one that is 100% full the other at 73%. The worst is yet to come. We’re all bracing ourselves.
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, 12/1/11 4:13 p.m.Nice to hear from you. Glad your’re home. All is well here. Going into Sowelu tonight to meditate – class is optional. This to hold the light and love for those suffering. Hugs.
We have closed Sowelu as the power is off and roads in to Paddington have closed. Please travel safe if you decide to still go. xxx
4:32 p.m.Thanks for that info. I was not made aware of the power cut or roads.
The power and roads only happened at 3 p.m. Chat soon. X
4:53 p.m.
Hello all! Well despite my best intentions to hold meditation tonight at Sowelu the power has been cut and roads shut as of 3 p.m. So if you were thinking of joining me there, stay home & enjoy your blessings. With all returning to “normal” Class will be on next Wednesday at 7. If ANYONE needs a hand or place to sleep please let me know. May all beings have happiness & its causes.
Thanks Angela. I have left Paddington and staying at my mums away from the river with my 2 kids. My partner is at our home with his mum who was evacuated from West End. Sending love to all those affected.
5:51 p.m.
We're safe, dry and not in ANY threat for the floods at all. Friends however haven't been as blessed. High tide yet to come, river keeps rising, so there's still more water. Again, there is no threat where we live, other than some road closures into town. City is under siege. No busses, 106 roads closed. The dam now is at 197% and now they tell us the capacity is actually 212%. I'll keep posting here.
6:43 p.m.
Dad, all is well here and there is no threat where we live.
160 roads are cut off now, hundreds of thousands are being evacuated, but we live out of town, miles from the river. Feeling quite helpless watching the news. Broadcasters have seen carp, snakes and even a shark swimming in the river waters. Tomorrow we're going to go in and see how we can help at the Evacuation centres. It is a crisis beyond imagination. The worst is yet to come. Tonight at 4 a.m. there is a king tide and the water will rise another meter. People have been sandbagging and preparing all day to get their possessions, pets and selves out. My work place had its power cut earlier today, but no flood damage. Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers. xxx
10:42 p.m.
The Katrina flood covered 233,000 sq/km, the Queensland floods, including Brisbane cover 1,000,000 sq/km. They’re closing the Gateway Bridge because a 300 meter cement chunk of the River Walkway has broken loose and is hurling down the river. There are fears that if it hits the bridge things could get nasty. Talk too about scuttling (blowing up) the Mogul Ferry because one of its guy ropes has torn away and if it breaks free it would be like a torpedo shooting down stream.
The siren sound over the radio that’s been blaring every fifteen minutes, all day has jangled my nerves. This “waaaaaah, waaaaah, if you need to contemplate leaving, then evacuate.” I’m also surprized that the army hasn’t been mobilized to help with the sandbagging and evacuation effort. Only 100 troops so far have been brought in.
Tomorrow we're going down to help out wherever we can. We've made a huge pile of clothes, towels, toiletries to donate and we’re glued to the TV and radio for moment to moment updates. Death toll at 7 people from the Toowoomba flash flood, missing persons 72.
10:54 p.m.
New toll-free number set up for those interested in volunteering or donating goods and services for the Queensland floods - 1800 994 100. Please copy and re-post so everyone knows about it and those who can help out. All over the News they’re asking for MONEY rather than Goods.
THURSDAY
13/1/11 12:12 p.m.
Woke up to find the River hadn't peaked as high as anticipated. 4.6 meters rather than the anticipated 5.2. The previous worst flood on record in 1974 peaked at 5.5 m. Today 11,500 homes completed devastated, 13,500 partially flooded, way more than in 1974. Ann Bligh, the premier commented that we are looking at Post War levels of destruction. Truly daunting. I’ve been very impressed with Bligh, she’s such a clear communicator and she hasn’t flinched at announcing any of the horrific information. She’s on TV every two hours giving regular updates. I’m feeling quite helpless but holding the light big time and doing lots of tong len practise. Death toll has risen to 12. Missing persons 61.
12:58 p.m.
We've not been personally affected by the waters but are definitely feeling the suffering people are going through. Four times the size of Katrina. Life will never be the same again. And I'm in the midst of preparing to return to Canada for two months. Surreal almost.
5:58 p.m.
Hi Angela. All is well at our place, no water. Could we have a meeting on Skype tomorrow? From what I have seen on TV Paddington is quite flooded, so could be a while before we can meet there again. Alternatively I could come to your place.
8:42 p.m.We could either Skype or you could come here. Let me know what works.
Cool, I will see you tomorrow.
FRIDAY
14/1/11 10:41 a.m.Yes I am taking on new clients.
I will give you a call early next week to get your background and what you're looking for.
I'm currently in Brisbane, Australia, and am dealing full on with the flooding that is happening here, so my mind is a bit preoccupied.
11:01 a.m.The river has receded, not entirely, but the imminent danger is over. The death toll has risen to 15. The clean up will commence in a few days. In a few of the 63 suburbs that were flooded people are slowly returning to their homes. It will be at least a week for others. And for some, they will never have a home to return to.
The Clinic where I work still has the power cut, as do 100,000 plus other homes/businesses.
3:56 p.m.It's been a tremendously stressful time this past week for all of us living in Queensland.
For some the floods will have possibly brought forward unresolved trauma or grief. For others the experiences, the images, the feelings may simply have unsettled you.
I would like to offer a FREE 45 minute counselling session on the phone, Skype or in-person (either in my office in Paddington or Cashmere) until the end of January. I would like to extend this offer to you or to a friend or family member as well. Just tell them that they need to reference this email.
Contact me to set up an appointment.
May the collective consciousness that has been awakened by the floods swiftly and gracefully be healed.
5:47 p.m.All is well in our world. The river is miles from where we live, but as you can imagine, we are still feeling the effects of the massive devastation. The water from a creek overflow came about 7 km from where we are.
Today I saw a client in my home instead of the clinic which kind of snapped me out of the shock zone I've been hovering in.
The entire week has been a kicker. My mom had surgery for the removal of a growth on her thyroid (Monday), the flood began in earnest Tuesday, my assistant let me know she would either have to stop working with me or I had to give her a substantial hourly raise (Wednesday) and the River peaked so by Thursday I was maxed out.
Amazingly, I'm doing well despite all the above. And I hope this email wasn't a downer.
I return to Vancouver February 28th. I am looking very forward to being back in the city for a while. With the amount of damage and the length of time it may take to put this city back to functioning, we may well return to live in Canada a few years earlier than planned.
6:00 p.m.Thanks for your email. It sounds like you're having a fabulous time in Arizona.
I am haunted by the final lines in my last email to you... that the flooding hadn't touched Brisbane. By now you will have seen the images and know that the city has been decimated. It's so unbelievable and shocking all at the same time.
All is well for us but as you can imagine, we are still feeling it. The water from a creek at Gympie Rd overflow came about 7 km from where we are. Our local train station Bray Park was flooded.
Sowelu had its power cut for 3 days - and I have yet to go back to see if there was any flood damage. It’s on that hill, so I doubt water came in. Rosalee, one suburb over from Paddington was completely totalled. Water up to peoples’ chests. The McDonalds in Milton had water up to its roof! And Suncorp stadium - did you see the pictures of that?
Apparently a fight broke out at the Woolies in Paddington because they were running so short of food and there was a queue of 50 people. They were letting them in by twos and threes just like at a night club.
It's been a phenomenal week. The extent of damage to the State is that 70% of it was under water. Katrina covered 233,000 sq/km, this one covers 1,000,000 sq/km. Much, much bigger than the combined area of France and Germany. Its the stories and the images that are playing on me. And the incredulousness that this is happening here, in Brisbane, not over there in New Orleans or Brazil.
Not until this morning did we hear ANY outside news about Sri Lanka or Brazil. All the news on TV and radio was completely to do with evacuation procedures, what to take with you, what to do with pets, where to go, not to go into the water etc., then how high the river was rising, the amount of rain expected to fall etc. Then about the other cities and towns that were being pummelled by the water.
On behalf of all Queenslanders doubly enjoy where you are. When you return everything will have changed. Not one person’s life will not have been affected in some way.
SATURDAY
15 January 2011 5:29 a.m.Hi Angela, Thank you for what you are doing. I lost everything in the flood and was not covered by insurance. I am getting lots of support. Dean Marlin
If you would like to donate to the Queensland recovery, contact
http://telethon.smartservice.qld.gov.au/.
Wow, this makes the flooding real to me. I just skim over the news on the internet and I don't have a TV to see the images so I didn't really take in the extent of the devastation and power of the flooding. I appreciate your details Angela so that the magnitude of the flooding can be appreciated. I probably have a belated "stunned" and "shocked' feeling. My heart goes out to everyone effected and I trust that the collective mind and heart will expand in a country-wide effort to heal and grow new dwellings and neighborhoods. I trust that the change will bring in more good and love and communal caring.
ReplyDeleteDeborah from Vancouver, B.C.