Flooding hits Brisbane suburbs of Tingalpa, Carina, Nundah, Stones Corner; schools to reopen where safe; NAPLAN postponed

Widespread Flooding and Disruptions Across Brisbane and Surrounds

The city of Brisbane and its surrounding areas experienced a chaotic weekend as heavy rain and powerful winds caused widespread flooding, disruptions, and damage. Over 100 roads were closed, with low-lying areas, such as those in Windsor, being among the first to be inundated. The Coles supermarket at Morningside was evacuated after its carpark flooded, while other supermarkets like Woolworths on Montague Road in West End faced severe stock shortages due to strained supply chains. In fact, the store’s fresh produce section was left with nothing but two pumpkins, highlighting the extent of the supply chain challenges.

The heavy rainfall was intense, witholland Park West recording 81 millimetres of rain in just two hours, while Mount Glorious saw 142 millimetres between midnight and 6am. Seqwater began releasing water from North Pine Dam at 3am as a precautionary measure, though officials were closely monitoring Wivenhoe and Somerset dams. Bureau of Meteorology’s Sue Oates assured residents that the rain would ease by Monday, though she cautioned that skies would remain unsettled with showers and potential thunderstorms throughout the week. She also noted that the situation was unlikely to replicate the devastating 2022 floods, as the rainfall this time was not as prolonged.

Wild, Rough Night as Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred Hits

The chaos escalated as ex-tropical cyclone Alfred made landfall at 9pm on Saturday, just north of Brisbane. After lingering off Bribie Island for 12 hours, the storm brought gale-force winds that battered the city, uprooting trees, damaging homes, and causing power outages. Trees crashed onto houses, cars, and power lines, while debris flew through the air and windows rattled, catching many residents off guard. Giant fig trees in the CBD were even toppled, a stark reminder of the storm’s fury.

Redcliffe, on the city’s northern fringe, was among the hardest-hit areas, with several homes losing their roofs. One resident, Daniel Goullet, remarkably slept through the chaos as his tin roof was peeled off and tossed over powerlines amid wind gusts of 104km/h. However, not everyone was as fortunate. A woman was injured on Anzac Avenue when a tree fell on her car, and another person was hospitalized after a tree collapsed onto their house in Lawnton.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Angus Hines explained that Brisbane experienced an “extra squeeze” in wind intensity due to the interaction between Alfred and a high-pressure system over the Tasman Sea. In a rare weather event, Alfred’s remnants also generated a stationary storm over Hervey Bay, about three hours north of Brisbane, dumping over 230 millimetres of rain in just six hours. This led to some of the worst flash flooding the region has seen in recent history.

Flash Flooding in Hervey Bay: A Grim Situation

Hervey Bay bore the brunt of the storm, with flash flooding sweeping through the area. Mayor George Seymour described the situation as “extraordinary,” with water inundating properties, forcing over 20 people to be rescued. The police station and watchhouse were evacuated, and police assisted in moving nursing home residents to higher ground. People were plucked from flooded cars and homes, as the storm’s intensity overwhelmed the community. Seymour, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said he had never seen such severe flooding.

Despite the chaos, residents and emergency services sprang into action, showcasing the resilience of the community. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk remarked, “You’ll never stop Mother Nature, but you have to prepare for it.” The words served as a reminder of the importance of readiness in the face of natural disasters. Meanwhile, in Brisbane, life slowly began to return to normal, with airports reopening and buses resuming operations, though many flights and services remained cancelled due to ongoing disruptions.

Signs of Recovery and Normalcy

By Sunday, Brisbane showed signs of recovery, despite rising floodwaters and power outages. Both Brisbane and Gold Coast airports reopened, though many flights were still grounded. Buses were set to resume operations on Monday after a brief pause due to unsafe conditions on Sunday. While the city’s infrastructure struggled to recover, there were moments of hope and joy. Mater Mothers’ Hospital reported the arrival of 66 babies over the past three days, including two baby boys named “Alfie,” born on Friday. Their arrival brought a sense of normalcy and optimism amid the chaos.

In the aftermath of the storm, Brisbane residents were left to survey the damage and reflect on the fragility of life in the face of nature’s fury. From uprooted trees to flooded roads, the city bore the scars of Alfred’s impact. Yet, even as the skies remained unsettled and the threat of more showers loomed, there was a sense of resilience in the air. The city had weathered the storm, and while the road to recovery would be long, the community’s spirit remained unbroken.