(Image Source: ABC News Australia)

BY LUKE LEONARD

ANCHOR CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Australia’s southern Queensland has been declared a natural disaster zone. Record breaking floods are forcing residents out of their homes. 

Towns of northern New South Wales are also preparing themselves as the swollen Mehi River’s banks are close to bursting.

Australia’s ABC News has more details...

“Hundreds of people are in evacuation centers after being forced from their homes. Three quarters of the town of Mitchell is underwater ... while tonight Roma is bracing for the worst with 200 homes under threat.” 

After having barely recovered from devastating floods in March 2010 and Novermber 2011, many people in the area are unfortunately familiar with the situation. An opinion writer for the National Times Australia suggests--  a disaster fund should be in place given the recurring events. 

“...unlike standing emergency services, infrastructure and co-ordination, governments' financial responses to disasters are, almost always, ad hoc. ...throwing cash where the need is greatest...”

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the evacuation center in Mitchell, used in previous years, worked without incident. However this year the center has been left vulnerable by more intense flooding. Despite the vulnerability of the center, residents are otherwise responding well to emergency services. Ten News spoke to New South Wales state services... 

“The good news is many have taken our advice and have left early, gone to friend’s places and relatives’ places, those sorts of things. But a lot of people are registering at the evacuation centers as well as other small townships around the Moree area.”

As reported by the The Sydney Morning Herald, forecasters are predicting the Balonne River in the town of St George will exceed 13 meters deep. This will make it the third year in a row the town has been swamped by 13 meter flood waters. 

Editor of the local Moree newspaper, Cady Andersen, suggests that although prevention and rescue efforts are better this time, nature was going to win no matter what. Sydney Morning Herald has that quote...

“At least this time we were more prepared...Having said that, after … getting off a chopper, so many residents have been inundated and would have been no matter how much preparation there was.”

Over 17,000 residents remain isolated by the floods.