This day was absolutely phenomenal, I had never experienced anything like it!  Thunderstorms were always going to be a possibility, as a Sub-Tropical Cyclone Daffy/Donald (still debate over whether Vic or QLD named it first � NSW didn�t get a choice even though it crossed through NE NSW <g>) continued its slow westward movement through NE NSW.  There was still a 500mb trough associated with this, and it assisted in bringing and maintaining colder air aloft.  It also assisted in bringing a warm and moist N�ly flow, which sent DP�s soaring (24-26C) along the coast!

I left university in Toowoomba an hour early, the magnetic attraction between me and beautiful storms to the east too strong to resist any longer!  The storms looked solid at times, although did not maintain their structure.  The storms reminded me of August 23, 2000. 

I ended up getting to Ipswich and toyed around there as a few storms developed to the north.  However they collapsed rapidly (possibly due to me being there) and with the advice of Dr Pearce I made my way home in the hope that I would intercept some of the slow moving thunderstorms that were starting to remain over the southern suburbs.  I was driving home on the M4, and got caught in the storm, the rain was so heavy I actually missed my turnoff!!!  I couldn't even see the bonnet of my car let alone the road, or an exit sign!  I wanted to pull over, but it was too dangerous as I was afraid some one might go up the back of me.  I ended up looking out the side window doing 30-40km/h trying to work out where the road was. 

I had to continue on the M6 towards Logan - the M6 was reduced to a standstill during the rain.  I tried to get off the M6, and got lost in the south side - there were accidents everywhere, stormwater drains were overflowing and there was several inches of water running across the road every few hundred metres. 

Houses were being flooded and people were trying to remove their belongings as huge volumes of water swept through into their house.  People couldn't even use umbrellas - not so much because of the winds, but because cars could not help splashing water over them due to the immense amount of water over the road.  Many roads had to be closed and traffic went into total chaos by 5pm.  Storm water drains that went underneath roads were under so much pressure that some of them actually had erupted underneath the road, and there were fountains of water in the middle of the road! 

It was total mayhem � I found myself in Woodridge and decided to visit James and try and wait out the storm.  All throughout there were near frequent flangs at times - made you sh!t yourself!

I arrived at James' and had to take my shoes off to get out of the car as his carport was ankle deep in water.  The rain was still torrential - and there was still plenty of lightning and thunder!  One CG (while talking to Macca on the phone) actually blacked out the area!  Just near James people had their houses knee deep in water simply from drainage not being able to cope.  Eventually I had to go and attend to our terminally ill cat.  But it was not going to be easy!  It took me 1.5hrs - the journey is normally 20-25mins! 

The M1 was a total crawl inbound and outbound, even when the M1 divided into the F3 and M1 (Gateway Mwy/SE Fwy), it was only marginally better.  THE GATEWAY MOTORWAY WAS  FLOODED IN TWO PLACES!!!  I had NEVER seen this happen before!  Apparently the SE Fwy got flooded coming outbound too, and Logan Rd was totally closed - as there were logs floating across the road!  I then had the fun of trying to get around my local creek at home � Wrights road had 2-3ft of water lying across it so I had to go through Carindale - and only just!  Water was lapping up near Bedivere St/Old Cleveland Rd - again, new flood record for this area, it's never come that close to flooding before. 

Meadowlands Rd was flooded - but only had a few inches of water coming across it - and was able to cross it safely (from storm water drains).  I got home and didn't have power, but it fortunately came on soon.  I received 141mm of rain all up.  Our entertainment area was flooded � the following morning I had to turn the air conditioning on to help dry it all out!.  We were lucky that we live on a hill though, and that the house is slightly elevated � our nextdoor neighbours just below us had to hose out their kitchen and family room.

Many people did not fair so well - most major roads were still jammed as of 9:30pm last night - the railway line between Brisbane and the Gold Coast was cut north of Beenleigh, and many areas were flooded and people were trying to find alternate routes as well as pick up relatives who had originally caught the train to Brisbane.

The following morning I went out and assessed damage in the eastside...it was hard, my God it was.  I was nearly reduced to tears myself looking at the despair on people�s faces near Stones Corner.  Many people who got flooded didn't even live near the creek, but the storm water drains just couldn't cope and in a developed area, there was nowhere for it to go, but in peoples houses and cars. 

Many cars were being aired out with bonnets up and doors open.  The stench was horrendous.  There were people out on the streets crying - many who thought their car had been stolen soon realised that it had been washed away.  Easts Leagues Club carpark was badly hit.  Near Old Cleveland Rd I saw cars floating upside down in the creek!!!  A boat was stuck against a business building, and a few cars had been washed up against fences.  A caryard nearby took the brunt of this. 

Many people were attending to their businesses and salvaging what they had left - they had no warning and some people lost a lot.  Some didn't have flood insurance and that made it even worse.  One person phoned MMM in tears because he had lost his house boat and it had been badly damaged and washed up down Norman Creek.  It was all he had left - only the shirt on his back.  MMM then gave him accommodation as the casino for several nights and then he broke down over the phone again because he wouldn't be allowed in because he had no shoes (MMM then said they'd buy him some shoes).

It was extremely sad and humbling.  It was overwhelming.  And I felt so sorry for all these people who didn't even have the chance to do anything.

An absolutely horrendous flood event that's for sure...one person has lost their life in this after a car was swept away.  The mother got out, but the 12yo boys body was found the following day on Saturday...Another man lost their life trying to cross a flooded causeway south of Brisbane.  An unfortunate reminder about crossing flooded bridges or roads with water flowing across them. 

Some of the higher falls were just under 400mm in three hours at Beerwah according to Channel 7 and 284mm at Logan City from the BoM.

There is one thing though - people are helping people, even the Pacific Towing (I believe that's their name) offered to tow cars that are in creeks out of the water for free - which is really a great gift and asset to help out people, as they've already lost so much without having to pay out more money...it always seems funny how some events like these are so significant that it�s enough to bring Australia�s third largest city together to help each other out in times of need.