Toilet paper, water, beer and eggs. Everyone in Townsville and surrounds is just waiting for those deliveries to make it through and one local resident is in the thick of it.
Jamie McDonald, behind the wheel of his road train, is, at the time of writing, stuck behind a caravan of 20 to 30 trucks attempting to bring supplies and aid to the people of north Queensland. Authorities have been scrambling to bring scarce food and water in and to restore power. He’s been away for two days on a long-slow slog but has kept his sense of humor.
While Jamie is carrying a load of toilet paper, eggs and water the vehicle he’s stuck behind is loaded with beer. The vehicles behind him, in the queue to get through to stricken residents, are carrying essential water purification equipment as the local dam waters have been compromised by constant flooding.
“It’s truck after truck,” Jamie reports from the scene. He was sent off on his mission with plenty of extra food for himself knowing there would be every chance he could get blocked. As another rain system forms overhead, he and the others on the inland road are very much in a holding position.
Jamie may not make it home anytime soon. As much as 250mm of rain was expected to fall over the weekend and flood warnings have been issued from Cairns to Rockhampton after more than 153 mm of rain fell over the region in previous hours. The Herbert River, Haughton River, Upper Burdekin and Flinders Rivers are facing major flooding. Two people have died in the inundation.
Townsville is home to a military base with an airport and personnel which positions the area positively for getting specialised assistance. Meanwhile, Jamie’s family back in the Southern Downs, including wife Cr Cynthia McDonald, are watching the weather forecast with some trepidation.
