Queensland floods

Before I left Brisbane, it had been raining for more than a week already and towns and cities on the outskirts were being affected by the floods. I thought this would never happen to Brisbane city itself because it was so far away and I was hoping for things would take a better turn for the people affected but things just got worse.

11 days into the new year, Brisbane city itself has gone under too. They say this is as bad as the floods in 1974 and right now almost 80% of Queensland is a disaster zone. Despite being miles and miles away, this tragedy that struck Queensland hit me as though as I was part of it and never left. I see pictures and video footages that left my mouth agape. I see familiar footpaths and landmarks that I may have walked past many times covered by steadily increasing flood waters.


Helicopter view of South Bank Parklands by MarrkDaviid


Picture of South Bank Parklands by michaelmeloni


Picture of Brisbane CBD area by Jono Haysom on flickr


Suncorp Stadium, now a swimming pool by _iWade_

It is incredible how natural disasters unleash such devastating forces but it is also during a crisis like this that the human spirit shines. I see friends on Facebook asking one another if they were okay or whether they needed a place to stay in case of an evacuation. I see people on Twitter opening their homes to strangers in need of help. This overwhelming support for one another is amazing.

I've just received an email from Hillsong Brisbane that the church is registered as an Evacuation Centre and at the same time looking for families to provide accommodation and volunteers to help out. All I can do now, is to pray, make a donation and hope my little contribution will help the people affected in this disaster. You can help too at Disaster Relief Appeals


Locals taking advantage of the eerily quiet roads (but usually very busy roads) on Coronation Drive to play baseball. That's the spirit, seeing something positive in the midst of all the chaos :) I pray that everything will improve.