Queensland Can't Catch a Break

I decided to post a map.  Many people have asked me about the location of the recent flooding and now Cyclone Yasi.  On the map below, Queensland is the northeast part of Australia.  I have drawn an arrow approximating the path of Yasi (which has now headed inland through the interior, but as I write this, it has been downgraded to Category 2).  Also on the map is Brisbane, the most populated city in Queensland and 3rd largest in Australia (after Sydney then Melbourne).  Population about 2million.

Brief note on Yasi:  We watched a lot of the coverage on TV.  Facts change; these are the ones I am hearing now.  As Yasi hit northeastern Queensland, it was a Category 5 cyclone, winds about 270 k/hr.  News coverage is showing substantial damage following such a large cyclone (think about the post-Katrina photos).   But, Yasi is also leaving behind more flooding, which of course Queensland is not prepared to absorb (literally) as they haven't dried out from the flooding last month.  News coverage is saying that Yasi is the largest Cyclone to hit Australia.

So a brief note on the flooding:  I circled Brisbane on the map because much of the coverage was focused on Brisbane, which was hit very hard by the flooding.  But, a geographic reference that worked well for my mental map, was one that said the total area affected was as large as Germany and France, combined.  Most of the flooding was restricted to Queensland, though Victoria was also hit.  The worst natural disaster to ever hit Australia.

In true Aussie spirit, apparently it's the right time for a beer (last photo - taken post-Yasi).

Graphics below: map (basemap from Google Maps), Cyclone Yasi,  post-Yasi flooding, Brisbane flooding (from last month) - all photos from dailytelegraph.au.com