Thread by @MiA_Will

Living and experiencing the #floods in #Mullumbimby was/is the most insane experience of my life.

Still so raw. I lost my home. When it first happened I was trapped in my house and had to break off the door...
Then escaped in my wetsuit w surfboard

This is my experience:
🧵

2/ I live 2 streets from Mullumbimby town centre.
The biggest issue for all of us was no warning.
The only reason I knew this might happen was because I was following Higgins Storm Chasers on Facebook.
Our weather apps and BOM said 40mm and maybe mild to moderate flooding.

3/ I picked up sandbags on the Sunday afternoon but the SES had hardly any sand, we were the only people there and, when I asked what they thought, they just said maybe we might but they always say it and just shrugged their shoulders.

4/ For months I had been feeling that flooding was imminent. I asked my landlady repeatedly about if I could stay at the house, and if I would be safe and saying we needed a flood plan to be ready, just in case. She just downplayed and said a few sandbags would protect.

5/ Mullum flooded 5 years ago due to Cyclone Debbie and it got to mid calf height and receded in a couple of hours and that is the level of protection I had in my home.

6/ I also tried to find out flood risk and any planning with Byron Council on their websites and there was no ready information and, if I wanted to see for that house, I needed to pay a couple of hundred dollars to get an idea of how/if my home could be impacted.

7/
The ocean water has been so warm lately. And I have been watching what’s been going on in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast.
Then on Saturday, Higgins Storm Chasing reported the system smashing Brisbane was headed out to sea to strengthen and then heading to the Northern Rivers.

8/ The sandbags at my door made me feel a little safe but once the water rose above those it started pouring through my walls. It was getting up to mid thigh height and rising so quickly as it was much higher outside.

9/

I tried to get out but my door was not able to move due to the water and sandbags. I ended up breaking the sliding door off so I could escape and closing my glass door so my belongings wouldn't wash away.

10/ For refuge I went into my landlady’s house in front which was elevated about 600cm. It was a raging river down the side of her house. By the time I got to her house my car was already submerged. And the water just kept rising.

11/ My landlady wouldn't leave due to her cats. The water was freezing and putrid. Sitting on her couch the water was quickly rising up my leg. At mid-thigh level I decided it was time to get out. So I grabbed my wetsuit and surfboard, w no idea how deep water would be in Mullum

12/ As I walked up my street. People were in shock looking outside houses, boats and kayaks coming down the street to rescue elderly and other vulnerable people. Emergency Services passed me on a dingy on the way to rescue someone who may have swept into the current.

13/ I walked into town to see what was going on. The Emergency Evacuation Centre was flooded and the only place safe was the pub. There was no one really coordinating response or assistance. It was utter chaos. People were huddling on steps, anywhere high enough with suitcases.

14/ I remembered a friend was in centre of town in a raised house and thank fully she was home, offered me warm drinks, food, a shower and dry bed.
They lent me their kayak to collect my valuables inc my laptop and essentials. #solucky #sograteful

15/ The water raged all day - from 4am to 10am that night - 16 hours.
All we could do was sit it out. It died for a while but then another dumping of raging torrential rain till finally it stopped and the water receded.

16/ Then Internet was lost that night and has not really been back. - no mobile connection and no NBN. Apparently both substations submerged.
I asked around for clock radio so we can listen to ABC but no one has one. Optus in and out in Byron is why can write this.

17/ Now Mullum is a disaster zone. People’s entire households piled on the street, cars strewn in bushes or bonnets open attempting to dry. Cash Only at every shop.
Food and petrol was running out - thankfully now roads are open, after 3 days, so essential supplies can reach

18/ My home has been destroyed and is unlivable, and all of my furniture is now on the street for landfill.
I can’t stay there but my landlady still wants me to pay rent and won’t give me back my bond.
I thankfully have somewhere to stay….

19/ Now it's receded and we can see clearly the community is working to connect with everyone, especially those in mountains as we can see massive collapses and changes to the landscape.
With no Internet connection we have been sharing stories through word-of-mouth.

20/ I bumped into friends who'd made the hike up to the mountains, over rocks and dense bush, where landslides and houses have been lost into the valley, helping to dig people out of the mud.
They are feeling like if it wasn’t for the community these people would not be rescued

21/ The common question is - Where is the army? Why isn’t anyone helping us?
Yesterday we all could hear a lot more helicopters circling but still, it feels like the community is organising, not with any help from the government that are meant to serve us.

22/ I don’t understand how the head of the disaster can say this. It could happen anywhere. So where do we live then? Floods and fires are happening indiscriminately everywhere.

https://twitter.com/SylviaJeffreys/status/1499470688599490565?s=20&t=lgTPGBw-E6A4eImHNno1xw

23/ There are so much that needs to be answered for after this. For now, people in the Mullum community are focused on doing what they can to find and save people, or helping them to clear out their homes and clean up.

cc @beneltham @rachelmealey @Jacstreet