The aftermath

It was two full days before we could even access the house. The backyard was still flooded and three quarters of the state had been declared a disaster zone. People were returning to their homes to heartbreak and devastation.

Our street was littered with people and cars dragging flood-soaked precious possessions and family heirlooms out of their homes and tossing them onto the street like the weekly garbage. It was a heartbreaking sight. I ran into the lady who lives two door downs. Our kids went to school together and she had only popped around the week before with a carton of fresh eggs from her chickens. "How are you?" I said...and she just burst into tears. There was nothing I could do but give her a hug. I don't think any words could have comforted her.

The stench was unbearable. A cross between a public toilet block at a chilli festival and rotting coleslaw that had been fermenting in a hot car for a week, the putrid blend made the task of cleaning up all the more difficult.

The Great Flood of 2011 claims the Granny Flat

In January 2011, South East Queensland experienced the full force of Mother Nature when a series of floods hit the state, claiming 35 lives and destroying thousands of homes.

On the 13th January, my little home, which I loved and had only owned for a little over a year, was inundated almost to the ceiling. Everything inside and out was destroyed by the floodwaters with everything drenched in a filthy toxic soup of stormwater, sewerage and god knows what else.

We had evacuated the day before, only taking a few important things like photos albums, passports and laptops. We knew there was water coming, but I thought it might just reach the floorboards, cutting off our power, so I didn't want to be trapped there while the power was off. I would never have imagined the water would reach as high as it did.

This photo was taken by my bestie Cara at around 9am the morning of the flood, a full 18 hours before the peak. We were cut off from that side of town as we were staying with Graham. Cara sent the photos via phone...it was devastating to download them. We thought perhaps by some miracle we may have been spared. We were wrong.

The Granny Flat also fell victim. Luckily, I guess, there was nothing in it, so damage is minimal. All plans are on hold though...but don't despair...we will be back :-) .