Intense rainfall and major flooding hit the region in what meteorologists are calling a ’rare weather event’ as residents saw the ‘revenge of the (ex-tropical cyclone) Seth’.
Dallarnil, Kilkivan and Goomeri were among many towns inundated by the floodwaters from 7 to 10 January. Here’s Burnett Today’s wrap-up of the massive weather event:
RARE RAINFALL EVENT
Intense rainfall last weekend in parts of the Wide Bay Burnett has left meteorologists and residents baffled by the ‘rare’ event.
Meteorologist Laura Boekel told the state in a press conference on Saturday that a “really intense” rainfall situation had unfolded on Friday night due to the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Seth.
“It’s produced thunderstorms that have sat stationary or very slow-moving overnight – usually when we see storm activity, it dissipates or it moves on, but we haven’t seen that,” Ms Boekel said.
“It’s produced a lot of rainfall in a very small area that has remained overnight.”
Read this story to see the mega gallery of reader pics of the flood waters and debris: burnetttoday.com.au/news/2022/01/12/mega-gallery-ex-cyclones-wrath-brings-major-floods/
RESCUE EFFORTS
A North Burnett family, isolated by the floods and quickly running out of food, were winched to safety by rescue crews.
A young girl, a couple and their four dogs were rescued by the Bundaberg-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew, after their home was cut off by extensive flooding in the area on Tuesday, 11 January.
Read the full story here: burnetttoday.com.au/news/2022/01/12/family-four-dogs-rescued-from-flood-waters/
‘EXTRAORDINARY WEATHER’
A severe weather event unfolded across the Burnett Wide Bay region overnight, as emergency services and weather experts tried to predict the ex-cyclone’s weather patterns.
Here’s the wrap-up of the state press-conference on Saturday: burnetttoday.com.au/news/2022/01/08/extraordinary-weather-wide-bay-burnett-braces-for-more-rain/
SEARCH FOR GIRL
A 14-year-old girl is still missing in floodwaters. The teenager has been missing since Saturday near the Burnett Highway. The girl’s father was later found clinging to a tree. Read more here: burnetttoday.com.au/news/2022/01/09/teen-missing-in-floodwaters-near-burnett-hway/
COMMUNITY’S CLEAN-UP EFFORTS
Following the devastating floods caused by last week’s rainfall, sports facilities and clubs across the Burnett returned to their halls and premises to find water damage, flooding, and a build-up of dirt and mud throughout many of their buildings. Here’s how they tackled the huge job: burnetttoday.com.au/south/2022/01/12/community-unites-behind-flood-cleanup/
MAN DIES IN FLOOD WATERS
Police are investigating the death of a man in flood waters at Tiaro on 11 January.
Around 5.30am, police were called to a rural property on Darcys Road following reports a man had fallen from a boat into flood waters the previous evening.
A 43-year-old woman and an 8-year-old girl, who had also been in the boat, managed to cling to foliage after it capsized and call for help.
Following an extensive response involving police and Fire and Rescue Service swift water rescue crews, the 52-year-old man was located deceased around 11.00am approximately 200 metres from where he went missing. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
HOW TO GIVE TO THOSE AFFECTED BY FLOODS
Online donation platform GIVIT is calling for all donations for people impacted by the floods across parts of the Wide Bay-Burnett region to be registered through their website givit.org.au, as part of the GIVIT Storms and Flooding Appeal. For more information read: burnetttoday.com.au/south/2022/01/12/how-to-give-to-those-affected-by-wide-bay-burnett-floods/
ASSISTANCE FOR FLOODED PROPERTIES
A range of disaster assistance measures are now available in the Queensland local government areas of Bundaberg, Cherbourg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, North Burnett and South Burnett following the devastating
heavy rainfall and flooding associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth from 7 – 10 January 2022. Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Read more details here: burnetttoday.com.au/south/2022/01/12/disaster-assistance-for-flooded-wide-bay-burnett/
ROADS CLOSED FROM FLOODING
With the fallout of ex-tropical cyclone Seth still affecting parts of the Wide Bay-Burnett region, many motorists and concerned residents are left scratching their heads at the condition of their local road network.
As many roads and bridges in the region were flooded, obstructed, damaged or otherwise rendered unavailable over the weekend, Burnett Today has compiled an up-to-date list of roads that are, as of writing, still closed off.
See the full list here: burnetttoday.com.au/south/2022/01/12/listed-roads-still-closed-after-weekend-flooding/
