1. We decided to return to Canberra from Brisbane via the New England Highway and tour around the Hunter Valley district.
Hunter Valley is flooded, devasted, roads closed, towns cut off, rivers rising. We arrived after the torrential rain and left before the rivers rose, but not before a number of people died.
2. Then proceed to Newcastle and visit some friends.
Newcastle is mostly without electricity, has a coal carrier washed up on the main beach, and many closed roads. We arrived after their three nights of (a) thunderstorms (b) rainfall and (c) high winds.
3. Then visit some relatives on the Central Coast.
I would say every property we saw had some damage. Mostly from uprooted trees or fallen branches.
So we were in the three main disaster areas of the state as it was happening. We are very lucky to have timed it as we did and get through! And that's not all, more will be revealed! We haven't unpacked yet; I will tell a fuller story in a couple of days. Needless to say, we are home in one piece.
Hunter Valley is flooded, devasted, roads closed, towns cut off, rivers rising. We arrived after the torrential rain and left before the rivers rose, but not before a number of people died.
2. Then proceed to Newcastle and visit some friends.
Newcastle is mostly without electricity, has a coal carrier washed up on the main beach, and many closed roads. We arrived after their three nights of (a) thunderstorms (b) rainfall and (c) high winds.
3. Then visit some relatives on the Central Coast.
I would say every property we saw had some damage. Mostly from uprooted trees or fallen branches.
So we were in the three main disaster areas of the state as it was happening. We are very lucky to have timed it as we did and get through! And that's not all, more will be revealed! We haven't unpacked yet; I will tell a fuller story in a couple of days. Needless to say, we are home in one piece.
