Talking to locals on the Warrego Highway between Dinmore and Mt Crosby exit. Spoke to at least 5 people who'd lost their homes. Some had to be boated out!

It’s so surreal saying things like “The flood peak is expected 5 hours from now in the Brisbane river” and “now is the time to evacuate” … Scott McDonald

Last night, Ipswich was inundated with the murky, brown sea of water.  At 2am, the two guys stranded at my house (Dave – Easterfest work colleague and Andrew his friend from Melbourne, here for a few weeks holiday/Easterfest prepping) and I decided to go for a walk around our house.  It was a dark, dark eerie night.  Power off…  very few cars around and the sound of water and boats in the distance.  The grocery store up the road had about 20 or 30 people sleeping (stranded from their homes) in the carpark.  We then wandered down the Warrego Highway to follow the sound of the water… till I got a bit too creeped out and suggested we go home!

At first light this morning (or should I say… when we awoke!) we ventured down the Warrego Highway towards Brisbane to see the massive body of water that had engulfing the Warrego highway and all the land surrounding it.  Within ten minutes of being there we spoke to probably five different families who’d lost their entire homes.  Women were in tears… men just stood in shock looking across the sea of water they’d been rescued from trying to stay strong for their families.  It was surreal.

We then headed down another nearby street (Junction Road in Karalee) and found more water.  Only the antenna of a home sticking out of the water.  The water stealthily crept into the city of Ipswich and invaded 1/3 of the city.  (Land value of these homes are 350K to probably around 650K so enormous loss)

This is footage I shot of a local explaining where houses where… here.

I’ve posted more pics on my facebook page here of my ventures around Ipswich the City I live in.

Raw footage here of Ipswich as the sun arose.  Despite the beautiful sunny day… devastation everywhere to be found.

Tonight Brisbane City is bracing for their worst flood possibly in history.  1000′s of people have been evacuated… the city is being flooded.  So sad to think just a week ago my brother and I road along the awesome River front bike paths around the city.  All completely under now… the floatable bikeway floated off into the bay tonight joining the rest of the debris (including many expensive boats!)…. thankfully it missed bridges as it escaped.  Here are some aerial views of Brisbane as of this afternoon here.  It will get much worse then this by morning.

Horror stories are now coming out of the town of Grantham as the waters subside and attempts are made to find all the missing people from that community.  This video is a graphic representation of what that community is going though.  Here.

Great explanation of how the Toowoomba Flood happened on Monday’s doom day – despite it being 700m above sea level. here.

ABC news photos here.

INSANE pics of cars been thrown around like match sticks in Toowoomba here.

I’ve been speaking to a couple of my American friends during the past couple of days.  Interesting to see they are experience crazy snow storms…   I’m glad to hear though that this ‘Australian’ news is actually making it into international news.  As I’ve shared though, it seems like it’s been minimal.  No one has really been aware of how intense the situation is over here.  I hope this post paints a more realistic picture of how catastrophic things really are here.  About 3/4 of this state have been affected by floods – an area about the size of Texas.  Drastic floods began in other parts of our state just before Christmas… so we are all overwhelmed as daily we are hearing about a new town or city being inundated – especially as it now upon us so close to home.  Thousands have lost everything.  Farmers have lost their crops… many for second and third times this year…  Fruit markets in Brisbane have been flooded making fresh produce even harder to come by.   Shopping centres are running dry… or being made impossible to get too.  Withcott has no water and other towns are being told they need to conserve or boil to kill eccoli.  The flood is now moving south into New South Wales.  When will it stop!?! Will you pray for us as a nation… that God will have mercy on us and that our people (including our atheist leaders) will turn to HIM in this tragic moment.

¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  2 Chron 7:14

Think of it like this… every person has a story of how they or someone they know has personally been affected by this flood.  It is literally that wide spread.  We can only hope and pray that people we know haven’t lost their lives… and our prayers and deepest sympathies are with anybody that has lost someone in such horrific circumstances.

Hoping to get out somewhere and help tomorrow… feel so helpless watching it all on the news.  Thanks for praying and sharing your love.  If you’re an Aussie and want to volunteer click here. I you can donate PLEASE do so by clicking HERE.