The Courageous

Well, she was a monster, 500 kms wide, dumped 300 mmm (12 inches) rain, and 295 km/h winds. She was five times stronger than Cyclone Larry in 2006. thousands of residents sheltered in evacuation centres, and 200,000 are without power. Note that this part of Queensland is not nearly as heavily populated as the South East Coast of the State (where we are) - so these numbers quoted are substantial.

The Gold Coast-our home, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and some of the other areas which were recently flooded, are immediately below that white cyclone mass approximately where I have put the circle above.

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We were prepared just in case we were caught in the "tail end", but basically weren't affected at all. Mind you if there was any chance we would be hit full on by a cyclone, the house would have been prepared, special belongings put into the car, the house locked up, and we would be off to somewhere far from from this terrifying, treacherous and traumatic experience. A good percentage of these courageous people endured this terror, as many have "weathered" through previous cyclones including Larry and Tracy.

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However, there were many who did take off south just like we would've - well before Yasi hit.

Above - just to show what a monster she was in full force, this is Cyclone Yasi superimposed on the USA.

"Battered BUT NOT Beaten" - how typical of these people. Loo only remains in this house A piano is the only survivor in this house.

Thousands of houses are ruined, and Schools, like the one at Tully (ground zero for Yasi) below.

Doubt whether one boat stayed unscathed at Hinchinbrook Harbour at Cardwell below.

Below a Banana plantation totally wiped out and the house in floods

The majority of the huge Banana, Avocado and Sugar plantations have been flattened. Since this cyclone landed in OZ - the rain still falls - some areas have now received 500mm (20 inches) so the rivers are flooding, even right out west, and Yasi and her tail end is whipping up storms and terrible winds all over - Alice Springs in the Northern Territory is another area where the mighty Todd River will flood in the next day or so - thanks to Miss Yasi. And the tidal surges are now in action, flooding many of the coastal towns which were already nearly flattened by Yasi at midnight on Wednesday.

The Army and the SES are now moving into the huge areas affected as they clear the roads and access, arrangements are being made for temporary accommodation for many people, it will be a long time before these houses are rebuilt or repaired - there are so many damaged or wiped out.

Ships full of food, repair material etc. will be arriving in Townsville from tomorrow, some areas will be without power for a few weeks, as lots of damage has been done to the infrastructure and of course the roads?. The Insurance companies are not playing silly twits, like they did with the floods (what is a flood, where did it come from and so on!), so that is also a step in the right direction., AND the people are just getting on with it, so much calm and common sense, helping each other, even though many are still traumatised by the roar and horror of this particular cyclone - far worse than their experience with "Larry." Another major situation is jobs, as many of the northern population work in the Banana plantations and the Cane fields - 85% of these crops have been dessimated. So much damage and heartbreak - being handled and managed so courageously by these Queenslanders.

In one area - Innisfail - which was ground zero when Larry (a C 4) hit in 2006, had rebuilt with category 5 cyclone in mind - so those particular places came through this terror quite well - and of course the same thing will happen with rebuilding the damage from Yasi. You experience, learn and take action!!!