Queensland flood and cyclone disasters

I have been glued to the tv news channel over the last few weeks following closely the Queensland disasters. The Australia ABC Network on Astro Channel 521 is very good for this.

I think there's a lot to learn about how the Australians handle disasters after the big disappointment on how the Americans handled Katrina. In this case I should say Queenslanders. I found the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh particularly impressive with her regular feedbacks and advice to the residents. Julia Gilliard, the Australian Prime Minister, on the other hand, was sadly unconnected with the issues.

I learnt that the first thing to run out at the supermarkets whether it is a flood or a cyclone is toilet paper. In Malaysia, we don't even keep toilet paper in public toilets on normal days.

In a cyclone, if you can't get out, the Queenslanders advise that you hide in a windowless room on an upper floor with mattresses and some food. And also fill up the bathtub for drinking water. I think these are good tips. If you don't have that, head out to the nearest shopping centre and go to the highest floor. That makes a good evacuation centre. I thought that is true, most shopping malls have no windows and in Malaysia, there're food courts, and supermarkets. Good thinking. But don't park your car at the basement. Most cyclones are followed by thunderstorms and possibly floods.

For a flood, there's no need to hide in a windowless room. Just move to high grounds, and have food supplies. I think it's worthwhile to have a blown up floater or dinghy. Some gumsboots, or Phua Chu Kang boots seems useful too.

In both instances, sandbags seem to be the life saver. Power is always out first.

It's funny how in Malaysia, we hardly have any serious issues with floods or heavy winds eventhough our east coast, sabah and sarawak are regularly affected by monsoon and landas seasons. Maybe it is because our infrastructure is so simple. The older flood prone areas have huge drains and bars by the roadside. It does help when driving in a bad thunderstorm like what hit us in Kuching to keep from driving into the drains. And maybe if you wish to have a resort house close to the river which could flood, it is best to build a house on stilts.


After watching all the commentaries, I learnt that if there is a flood mitigating objective, such as building a dam, like what the Queenslanders did after the 1974 flood, it is best not to lose sight of that objective. A dam seems like a dual edged sword, it can conserve water, provide energy and at the same time, create an unsafe surrounding habitat waiting for a disaster to happen.