jarrod,    I watched the videos you gave us links to.   It reminded me so much of the Mississippi River going on a rampage here in our midwest.  Water is a very scary thing.  Water always wins.    I am glad that you and your family are safe and sound.   Kay

Thanks Kay, and thanks Steerpike/Tap for the donation.  As I keep saying, a lot of the people here weren't covered (some just assuming they would be and now reading the fine print), and they'll need all the help they can get financially to get back on their feet again.  I can't imagine what it must be like for them - to have a house in ruins or written off, no where to say, and still have to pay mortgages.  It'd be totally demoralising.

One thing's for sure, I really appreciate the gravity of natural disasters that have occured before, now.  It was always easy to shrug off those that happen overseas, but now I realise how ingorant and callous I've been.

Thanks Armand [Image Can Not Be Found]  Many of the streets are now clean, and traffic is pretty much back to normal.  Some business that were affected have now re-opened.  On the surface, you probably wouldn't notice too much amiss at the moment.  But when you start to go into people's houses you can appreciate how long it will take some families to recover.

I found out last week that my mother's best friend's place flooded, and she lost a few of her keepsakes.  She did manage to save her unopened complete collection of Next Generation and DS9 figurines though, so that is something.  And she was insured for flood, which eases the loss.

They're talking about setting up raised townhouses on land where houses have to be bulldozed, and also about mandatory minimum house raises too.  Both of which are probably good ideas.  We had a property expert on our news last night saying that after the '74 flood, house prices in flood affected areas returned to normal within about 12 months!  I don't know how, but I guess housing demand brought the prices back up so quickly.  It will be interested to see if the same happens after this one.

Jarrod…I hope you have no plans to go surfing this week, what with Cyclone Yasi heading your way.  [Image Can Not Be Found]    Seriously, sending good thoughts your way again.  I hope that damned storm never makes landfall.

Edit:  the Weather Channel shows that Brisbane will be spared all but a bit of rain over the next several days.  Good for Brisbane.  Not so good for those to the north.