OT Power Back!

We saw this on our news last night. It seems so awful, when you have been crying out for rain - for it to come with such damaging effects. As we saw the broken road, another piece simply dropped off. Awful to see - even worse to be involved. So sorry. . In message , melinda writes

The worst of the flooding is supposed to hit Maitland on the Hunter river between 6pm and midnight tonight. Once the flood waters go down, which could take some time, then the next big clean up starts.

Our only problem tonight is a lack of hot water from our hot water tank as it has no power, 2 of our 4 circuits are out. The electricity company wants to know of any power problems still existing in the morning. There was so much power out that they're flat out fixing what they know about, that sometimes the crews are finding problems on the way to jobs despite the fact that they've called in crews from interstate.

I did do some hand sewing on a quilt today! I was going to work on cutting more fabric for clothes but realised I won't be able to concentrate properly with the uncertainty of not knowing when the power would be back on, so I worked on an EPP instead.

I have been watching your storms from down south. So sorry the long awaited rains have been so destructive - and tragic - for so many.

We also have had rain, but nothing like your storms. Tonight it is absolutely still and clear . . . . and consequently very very cold lol. I think we have patchy snow up in the Grampians ATM.

Stay safe and warm up there! Good luck with the power too.

I was in Sydney in that May 1974 storm. All the fences in our back lane were flattened, Manly Pier was swept away, and I remember walking along a beach-side road where blocks of concrete forming the seawall (must have been several tons each, they were the size of a walrus) had been swept half across the road. I didn't have a radio or TV so I just stayed inside listening to the wind, it was a couple of days before I realized how bad it had been.

Nobody seemed very surprised then - Australian weather was expected to be larger than life. But we didn't have anything like the recent drought, that's in a different league.

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It was the wind and rain combined that caused the initial damage. The winds Saturday night weren't as strong as first feared and the rain wasn't as heavy. The last thing we need here is more rain!

There waere places up in the New England area that rarely see snow that were blocked off becasuse there was about 10cm of snow on the roads!

We have 2 of 3 phases working. Got both A/C's working, the fridge, TV (keeps DS amused since he can't go outside), could boil the kettle so we had baths last night - no hot water in the tank to have showers, and the dishwasher works! I need to wash clothes, it'll have to be with cold water - I normally use warm, but at least I can wash them.

Glad to hear that you and your family are okay Melinda especially after seeing your suburb listed as one of the flooded ones on one of the forums I visit. Some of the photos I have seen are tragic.

We went camping for the weekend so what we heard was limited.

Dee > From 1:30 am Friday night till 4:30 pm Sunday afternoon.

There are photo galleries here

scroll down a little. In gallery 7 there's a photo of thebridge down the street, it's the damaged bridge over Winding Creek.