Emotions high as Qld's St George evacuates

5 Feb 2012, 7:57 pm   -   Source: AAP
Share This
A RAAF Hercules airlifted hospital patients at St George, in southwest Queensland. (AAP)

A RAAF Hercules airlifted hospital patients at St George, in southwest Queensland. (AAP)

Evacuations are running smoothly, but residents in St George are still coming to grips with the disaster facing them, the town's mayor says.

RELATED

St George's mayor says mandatory evacuations are running smoothly as the town braces for record flooding.

Donna Stewart told AAP a steady stream of traffic was leaving the inland Queensland town on Sunday night as aircraft flew in and out helping with evacuations.

The call for mandatory evacuations was made by authorities after Bureau of Meteorology modelling indicated the Balonne River could peak in the town at 15 metres on Tuesday.

The flood that devastated the town in March 2010 only reached 13.4 metres.

Ms Stewart said she was relieved to see people were heeding warnings and leaving before the Moonie Highway - the only road out of town - was cut.

"It's a big worry off my shoulders and I just hope things work out better than what we're expecting," she said.

Ms Stewart said while people were complying, the strain of the situation could be seen on their faces.

"It's very emotional here, of course," she said.

"People are fearing for what's going to happen and I think looking past that for when they return.

"We can just hope that levy bank we have in place does hold and the waters don't top it."

The mayor said she was not aware of anyone refusing to leave their home, although she would be staying put for now.

"I'm contemplating where I should go (in the town) but I'll make that decision in the morning," she said.

Meanwhile, Brisbane City Council was preparing to accommodate St George residents at the showgrounds.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube