Spare a thought for our Australian Friends

K1W1 · 02-02-2011, 03:23 AM

Hi,

As much as Kiwis and Australians hate each other when there is any sports involved, it is well known we stick together when the **** hits the fan.

The people in the path of this little baby are going to get a major battering by anyone's measure.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/austral...race-for-storm

I spoke to a guy I know in Townsville this evening his time, his property is 7m above sea level and about 500m back from the beach, he has been sleeping during the day so he can be as alert as possible tonight when this monster roars ashore.

AMG · 02-02-2011, 03:30 AM

Yes, I heard a Swedish girl in Cairns saying on the radio this morning, that there is no longer possible to leave the town. They will just hang on over night and hope for the best. Scary...

Loren Schweizer · 02-02-2011, 09:08 AM

K1W1, the photo in your link is very telling: a woman taping a window speaks volumes. These are people who do not, God save them, have a clue as to what they are about to face.
Wonder, too, what the local building codes were for the past years--the equivalent of taped windows?

Hope their relief effort is swift and well-funded.

K1W1 · 02-02-2011, 09:48 AM

Hi,

From what I understand the building codes are pretty good in that part of the world.

I have been watching the ABC online most of the afternoon, it doesn't make good listening when they say folks have been calling emergency services for help but as the weather is so bad they can't do anything to help them.

NYCAP123 · 02-02-2011, 10:27 AM

Yasi is a cat 5 with winds topping out at about 186mph. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41382991/ns/weather/
That's devastating, especially on top of all the flooding these folks have endured. My prayers go out for them.

K1W1 · 02-02-2011, 11:20 AM

Hi,

Here is the ABC Australia feed for those interested.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/cyclone-yasi/

NYCAP123 · 02-02-2011, 12:38 PM

I'm glad to see it's coming in where it is (small populations). Hopefully they've evacuated those coastal towns around Tully.

Kafue · 02-02-2011, 03:15 PM

Building codes are VERY strict.
Towns such as Innisvale have endured cyclones before, some category 4, so the locals were prepared.
Local saying:
KISS MY YASI!

This one though, YASI, cat 5, is the biggest since 1908!
However still a lot of damage. Farms, homes and businesses devasted. Many lives will be changed for years.

So far so good. No deaths, just destruction.
As of 7 a.m local time YASI is now downgraded to cat 3.
These people have been very well advised and prepared.
Crazy time for us in Queensland. Floods in the South East, the worst in 35 years and biggest cyclone in 100 years in the North.
We all pray for those affected.

Kafue · 02-02-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

As much as Kiwis and Australians hate each other when there is any sports involved, it is well known we stick together when the **** hits the fan.

The people in the path of this little baby are going to get a major battering by anyone's measure.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/austral...race-for-storm

I spoke to a guy I know in Townsville this evening his time, his property is 7m above sea level and about 500m back from the beach, he has been sleeping during the day so he can be as alert as possible tonight when this monster roars ashore.

K1W1, agree with you that when the **** hits the fan we stick together, but we Aussies DO NOT HATE New Zealanders at sport, I think it's more like we sympathise with you guys and look forward to your improvment at rugby, cricket etc so that there is more of a competition with our close nieghbours.

NYCAP123 · 02-02-2011, 04:19 PM

Funny! Lol! :d :d

Kafue · 02-02-2011, 04:43 PM

The amazing size of YASI

FISHTIGUA · 02-02-2011, 08:01 PM

The funny thing is all the old wooden houses along that part of the coast are built up on stilts 6 to 8ft high. The modern block built houses have little or no elevation. I wonder which will do better in the face of such a storm?

I wish all of them the best. I know what it's like to lose a home due to a storm.

YachtForums · 02-02-2011, 09:05 PM

If the water runs deep, my money's on the stick house. When the wind reaches 4th gear in a Buggati Veyron, I'm betting on block. Godspeed and goodwill to our friends down under. Been there, done that. Will vacate next time.

Kafue · 02-02-2011, 10:35 PM

As much as there is now some relief that YASI may have done it's worst, there is a lot of pain......

NYCAP123 · 02-02-2011, 11:04 PM

The marina looks like about what you'd expect from a cat 5, but the town looks surprisingly good. Hope that's really the case. I remember the feelings of relief after Andrew. It wasn't till close to a day later that word started filtering in from where Homestead used to stand. Good luck and God speed to all.