[Outwest34au]

I live 50 km west of Emerald at Sapphire, yes, gemfields. As usual we had a flood earlier than Emerald. Depending on where it rains here 20 km north or south can mean it hits the Fairbairn Dam which is the emerald side, or go through to Comet, a small town enroute to Rocky which has had much and prolonged water from all directions.
When we flooded this time we only got cut off by road from emerald for 2 or 3 days. When we got to buy up before emerald flooded the choice of fresh milk and potatoes was non existent, bread was 2 loaves per customer. Woolies had some pork chops and pretty much nil else in way of meat.
With the roads cut all over the shop and truckies needing a WRC navigator to find a dry route things slowed up more when Emerald went under.
The road from Anakie to Emerald was opened late yesterday, so this morning I packed the small pressure washer, hose, shovel and 14 yo son, headed to town to see the damage at my other part time job (pest control). 600 mm or so through the shop, boss is in Bris. The stench of the organic material is a reminder of the destruction. We spent the day cleaning out all the crud and mud, back tomorrow for more.
To drive around Emerald and see house after house with most every possesion out on the road for collection was somewhat a deep moment. Ordinary people we see everyday walking out the door to hurl a chair or tip a bucket of slush out, houses with water lines at window sills and others on the gutters. the Retravision store had truck after truck carting trashed furniture and whitegoods away, today milk was 2 litres per customer at stores (which is fine if you live nearby, we should have milk here tomorrow locally tho) meat was harder to find than rocking horse poo, and $11 for a for a small pumpkin.
All this flooding has both and immediate and longterm effect on people, it is understandably crippling to be left with nothing and still owe a motza.
It's good, and touching, to see everyone here and across the state that is in the same boat (had to crack me a smile then) chipping in like Aussies do in times of fight and plight.
At times like this, Aussies seem to resist the temptation to worry about themselves and help the poor bugger that needs a hand worse than them. That is one of the things I will drink to on January 26.