Who said living out country was boring?

As most of the family know already - Charleville was hit by the worst flood in about 10 years. Following for family and friends are a few pics and videos of what we saw. As usual, camera pics just dont do it justice.

Sandbagging the IGA

The gully in the centre of town was the first to flood.

SES workers making a delivery in their boat. (on the other side of town. this is a friends pic)

Trent's school - St Mary's - a bit of a delay on the school covered area.

Interesting seeing that sign there....

Petrol Station - now where did I park my car?

Police Station and water over road washing the bins away

water rushing by a bin

first ones under

my house is on the right hand side before the yellow posts. The camera shot is taking facing the Warrego River which has flooded the bridge, and water is coming past the levy and half way up the road. (no gate on levy because the COUNCIL left it on the other side of town where is was stuck by flood water, smart work boys ???)

The bad sound in the video was actually the sound of rushing water.

The thing that worried us the most was the sound of the emergency siren signalling the beginning of the evacuations. It sounded like a siren warning war bombing planes on the way. It made me pull out the kids suitcases and throw a few things into them.

It came very fast, and we were running around trying to help the neighbours get things out from under their houses, and making sure everyone was ok .

The kids just wanted to swim in it.

Trent had been playing in the mud with the kid next door ealier that day, and when the water started to rise and rise and rise, he came to me and said - mum, i am sorry i built the dam out of mud. I didnt mean to flood Charleville. - Gorgeous thing.

Jason had a rough day. He worked from 8am - 10pm and didnt have time to stop for a break. A nice lady did bring some sandwiches to them that they were able to eat on the run.

He tells lots of interesting stories of ordering people out of their homes, drudging through rushing water to save a mother and 12yr old daughter, and of course help dogs. The poor mother almost floated away while he was holding the daughter and he had to reach over and grab the mother by her shirt.

Despite what he was going through all day, he was so worried about us. I think I am a very lucky girl. No damage to the home, with only how to clear a fallen tree to worry about.

Trents school is under water and will take weeks to get back to working order.

Shops will not be open for at least a week, which makes me SO GLAD I had a 'feeling' to get some storage together just prior to moving here. We will be eating lots of porridge. Jason said some people have NOTHING.

The stealing has begun with several stores and the nurses quarters at the hospital have already been broken into. When the police and SES helpers went to the IGA to get food to send up to those with nothing and had been evacuated - a lot of food rushed out the doors of the store and down the street. People were getting in boats and followed it down the road near the cemetary and started scooping food out of the water - anything they could get.

Our neighbours are all pulling together, sharing food/meals so we use the BBQ all at once. One neighbour bought me a loaf of bread, doughnuts for my kids (before the stores closed earlier today, and i had NO CASH only atm card and ATMs were down - of course, i was cranky i didnt prepare that better and have cash) and bought me over 2 rolls of toilet paper. These people are just sharing and taking care of each other.

We are very blessed and hope that the water doesn't continue through the night or it could be worse tomorrow. Stocking up water in every bottle I can find.

Our back yards - the water was rising.

Keep you up to date with how the town goes recovering from something like this.

Its good everyone is safe and no deaths.

Its good to be prepared! A learning experience thats for sure.