|
Post by Mira O'Halloran on Feb 12, 2009 8:45:05 GMT -5
I don't know who, if anyone, is aware of what's been happening in Australia this last week. Up in the north east (Queensland) It's flooding. but that's pretty easy to deal with, if you can grab something to float on. The south east (Victoria) is a site of complete devastation. They called it a Firestorm. The worst fires in at least two decades (others say a century) ripped through the state, taking towns off the map, destroying just over 1000 homes, killing near to 200 people (expected to rise to 300-400), and they estimate about a million animals, domestic and wildlife also died. People have lost loved ones, homes, pets... some people are in hospital and we don't know if some of them will make it. I nearly lost one of my sisters and her family in it, but they got lucky - their home still stands. My other sister is still unknown. Here are pictures to give you an idea of the scale of what happened. www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/bushfires_in_victoria_australi.htmlIf you can help in some way, even if it's just offering condolences, please do.
|
|
|
Post by Mira O'Halloran on Feb 12, 2009 8:52:01 GMT -5
I just read that the fire was moving at 600km's an hour, blowing across the treetops, then burning down.
|
|
|
Post by Rook on Feb 12, 2009 10:15:25 GMT -5
Yeah, California is no stranger to firestorms, but this is worse than anything I've heard of here.
It's kind of interesting that after our last horrific fire we started to impliment proceedures and mandates developed by the Australian fire authority. Which leads me to believe that if the Australian fire reaction team wasn't as good as it is this would be much worse, if that's imaginable.
|
|
|
Post by Mira O'Halloran on Feb 12, 2009 22:19:43 GMT -5
I suppose we're kinda used to it. There have always been summer fires here - usually started by lightning on a dry day - So we've learnt the best methods to deal with it all.
In many ways, we were lucky that the damage was what it was. But at the same time, the fire bug who was deliberately lighting them around the natural fires didnt' help.
|
|
Nesslandria Haneh
Aristocrat
Countess of Wolfshire County
Loyal servant to our Lord Protector and his Queen.
Posts: 230
|
Post by Nesslandria Haneh on Feb 14, 2009 15:01:59 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear about that. If arsonists were involved I hope they are caught and prosecuted to the full extent. I hope the rest of your family is safe.
|
|
|
Post by Mira O'Halloran on Feb 14, 2009 21:59:17 GMT -5
Arsonists started 70% of the the 50+ fires. 31 of them were still burning yesterday. when they get caught, they're facing second degree murder charges.... about 200 of them. Plus all the damage charges, ect.
There's still no word of my other sister.
|
|
|
Post by Rook on Feb 19, 2009 16:17:28 GMT -5
Any updates on your sister?
|
|
|
Post by Mira O'Halloran on Feb 20, 2009 18:14:03 GMT -5
Not yet. It's possible that she lost everyones numbers... But we just don't know.
|
|