Federal govt to aid Qld storm victims

The federal government says it will help Brisbane residents hit by Sunday's
devastating storm.
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard has activated natural disaster relief and
recovery arrangements after the storm that hit northern and western Brisbane.
"Money will be made available to the community for such necessities as food,
clothing, accommodation, and emergency repairs to housing," Ms Gillard said in a
statement.
Half of the state's costs in the storm clean-up would be covered, she said.
Ms Gillard said the federal government would provide further assistance if necessary.
"The public rightly expects all levels of government to work closely together in
times of need so that the community can bounce back quickly," Ms Gillard said.
"The government's thoughts are with the thousands of families that have been caught
up in this disaster and most particularly with the family of the young man who
tragically lost his life."
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says the damage caused by the storms is comparable to
the devastation wrought by Cyclone Larry.
"The only thing that has been anything like it is Cyclone Larry," Ms Bligh said,
referring to the cyclone that caused almost $1 billion in damage when it hit
Innisfail, in the state's far north, in March 2006.
More than 57,000 homes are still without power after what experts described as the
worst storms in 25 years.
Destructive storm cells hit the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Logan, Sunshine Coast bringing
heavy rain, damaging winds, large hailstones and flash flooding.
Brisbane's north-west suburbs were the worst hit with roofs ripped from houses and
powerlines brought down, while a freight train derailed at Caboolture and the
Keperra Sanctuary Nursing Home was partially evacuated after significant structural
damage.
A 20-year-old man was killed when he was swept away by storm water while
photographing the storm with a friend at Chermside in Brisbane.
"One person was able to hold on to a grate and QFRS (Queensland Fire and Rescue
Service) were able to pluck him out, however, they couldn't find the second person,"
a police spokeswoman said.
The body of the 20-year-old was found a few hours later.
Meanwhile, there are fears a Brisbane suburb's water supply could be contaminated
after the storm destroyed a reservoir roof.
Brisbane City Council told residents of The Gap not to drink tap water without
boiling it first, or buy bottled water.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the roof of the reservoir had collapsed in Sunday's
storm.
The roof would have been covered in bird droppings and other animal faecal matter,
making it potentially hazardous to human health, he said.
Four Brisbane schools are closed as a result of storm damage, and 10 others
sustained less severe damage.
Areas around Mount Tamborine, in the Gold Coast hinterland, were also severely
affected with trees brought down and many roads still closed.
"It's certainly the worst one I've seen on the mountain," Kerry Dickenson from St
Bernard's Hotel said.
"It was pretty bad, there were trees down, hailstones the size of golf balls and the
boys have been working hard to restore the power."
Power was cut to more than 230,000 homes at the height of the storms.
"Sunday's storms were described by seasoned Energex field staff as the most damaging
in around a quarter of a century," an Energex spokesman said.
But there was one upside.
Rain dumped by the storms has lifted the combined capacity of the Brisbane region's
three dams by 0.08 per cent, or an extra three to four days' supply.
Dam levels are expected to increase further this week, with more rain forecast.
Queensland Energy Minister Geoff Wilson says some storm-hit homes may be without
power until Tuesday.
"They are working flat out to restore power ... but I would think there will be
pockets of people that during tomorrow (Tuesday) may still be without power," Mr
Wilson told reporters during an inspection of damage.
Meanwhile, weather experts say Brisbane can expect an intense storm front like the
one that hit the city at the weekend every five years or so.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster David Grant said the bureau had classified Sunday's
weather event as a severe thunderstorm.
He said the storm was triggered ahead of a south-east change moving up the coast.
"In terms of just a thunderstorm, it's not that uncommon, with one about every five
years," Mr Grant said.
The storm brought heavy rain, hail up to 4cm in diameter, and wind gusts of 130km/h.
Mr Grant said most areas received 40-60mm of rain but Ferny Hills, in Brisbane's
north-west, received 80mm, all but 11mm of that falling within half an hour.
The nearby suburb of Enoggera received 46mm of rain in 15 minutes, he said.
Ipswich City Council planning spokesman Paul Tully said there was an urgent need to
upgrade the Australian building code and raise standards of construction in
sub-tropical areas with cyclonic rainfall.