Thread: Brisbane storms

In for another stint tomorrow, all our trucks are doing 24hr rotating shifts, we were hooking up customers today out Pullenvale way while some crews are closer to The Gap but we couldnt get much connected untill the main network was repaired.

The lines were clear, until 20mt trees hit them and whole roofs took them out, it is quite a shock to see 500mm dia poles snapped clean off 1mt above the ground.

Our shift will start around 8am tomorrow and probably end around midnight-2am dependant on how much access we can get.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

Im on the clean up crew for the gap...

the ADF has laid on something like 100 trucks from 2t-15T capacity and over 700 personell.

I counted 32 chippers, 4 excavators, 2 stump grinders, who knows how many bob cats, chainsaws and tree lopping mobs in the 4 hours we were at it today...


my current rumourus orders include "rest of the week", "Bring sleeping gear"


the truck I was co-ee for shifted about 8 tons of downed trees, from 3 yards....

I have lost a few souls and much asset to the effort too.
I don't really mind, although I will fail a few KPI as a result, but I get a bit snakey when people and politicians all to easily and frequently 'call in the Army'.

My personal view is that we are not a 'workforce on tap' or 'free labour' for the Pollies, but a professional organisation of men at arms.

Another annoyance is that the diesal, salary allowances, maintenance, rations etc all comes out of our current working budget, with no gaurantee of budget top up.
This means we will scale back our training (for our real job) as we have spent the money already!

That being said, I have yet to ever meet a soldier who won't contribute and do so gladly, myself included.

Ralph

"Ralph1Malph said

I have lost a few souls and much asset to the effort too.
I don't really mind, although I will fail a few KPI as a result, but I get a bit snakey when people and politicians all to easily and frequently 'call in the Army'.

My personal view is that we are not a 'workforce on tap' or 'free labour' for the Pollies, but a professional organisation of men at arms.

Another annoyance is that the diesal, salary allowances, maintenance, rations etc all comes out of our current working budget, with no gaurantee of budget top up.
This means we will scale back our training (for our real job) as we have spent the money already!

That being said, I have yet to ever meet a soldier who won't contribute and do so gladly, myself included."


I think only because people won't or could be bothered to look after them self.
I'm talking about food and water.
only after one day people dont have enough food or water.

our family has at-lease a weeks worth.
even my two years in Bendigo.
I spose I've spent to much time living in the cyclone areas.
and having camping equipment

Originally Posted by hook

I think only because people won't or could be bothered to look after them self.
I'm talking about food and water.
only after one day people dont have enough food or water.

our family has at-lease a weeks worth.
even my two years in Bendigo.
I spose I've spent to much time living in the cyclone areas.
and having camping equipment

Not sure I agree. Looking at how many people were out and about I don't think many Ferny Grove residents went to work Monday. The place was crawling with people clearing up trees from the roads, footpaths etc and I didn't see any SES, council or military, it was just the community looking after themselves. I assume the official helpers I mention were all at The Gap as far as I could tell which is fair enough as they were worst hit. There was also a large contingent at Kedron Brook Rd getting the power restored. The SES did come out in the middle of the night to put some tarps up.

Neighbours were helping each other and I met a few I had not met before. Anyone who needed food and water just had to drive a few suburbs to find a shop.

The only complaining I have seen is on the television and this was from people who had lost part of their rooves and two nights later had not received any assistance at all. I understand their frustration when all the TV crews and politicians put all their focus into one street in The Gap.

Today the Ferny Grove High School had a bunch of military and some serious equipment and I am massively impressed with what they achieved in 5 hours today.

Yes everyone is over worked
and there is a lot of cleaning up to do
some people need more help then others (old, injuries etc)

and been through cyclone before
As seen on TV

but it peeves me that people can't help them self for two days
the wanted some one to clean their yard.
and why should the SES clean yards
roofs and trees YES.

was an SES member, and was at every call out, and training,
but left years ago, work kept me away.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

Im on the clean up crew for the gap...

the ADF has laid on something like 100 trucks from 2t-15T capacity and over 700 personell.

I counted 32 chippers, 4 excavators, 2 stump grinders, who knows how many bob cats, chainsaws and tree lopping mobs in the 4 hours we were at it today...


my current rumourus orders include "rest of the week", "Bring sleeping gear"


the truck I was co-ee for shifted about 8 tons of downed trees, from 3 yards....

I missed this post until after Dave PM'ed me. If anyone is being posted to the area and needs somewhere to grab a shower, do some washing or needs somewhere to sleep just give me a call on 3138 2235. That is my work number but I will redirect to a mobile.

While downstairs is a mess our main living area is unaffected so it wont be any trouble.

Originally Posted by hook

Yes everyone is over worked
and there is a lot of cleaning up to do
some people need more help then others (old, injuries etc)

and been through cyclone before
As seen on TV

but it peeves me that people can't help them self for two days
the wanted some one to clean their yard.
and why should the SES clean yards
roofs and trees YES.

was an SES member, and was at every call out, and training,
but left years ago, work kept me away.

I guess you would have seen the best and worse and I am not surprised that some people expect the SES to be free labour for them. They should not, and hopefully do not, clean up people's yards. And why do people abuse the Energex guys who are out working. I just don't get that one. So I am not arguing with you as you have more experience and this was not my intent, I am just pleased that the people in the streets around us seemed to be able to look after themselves with some much appreciated help from the SES to do the tarps.

Well it must be really bad, we have been told to expect a solid stream of work for the next 6 weeks

Any electricians, carpenters, plumbers, handymen, labourers, roofers any construction trade, who would like some extra work PM me and I will get you on our system we pay on 7 days. We do have trades in QLD but the volume of work we are encountering is unbelievable

I will be over there in Brendale in two weeks trialling a new mobile office (winnebago) will behaving the weekends off so hopefully catch up with some of you for some beers.

You might have more work than that Dawg, if this keeps up. It is absolutely lashing down here at the minute. Its that hard and windy, it's coming horizontally under the verandah (about 8ft wide) and into the front windows (which we have never had to close for rain).
Feel for the poor buggers in those spots that were "tarped up" and already leakin