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Author Topic: Thought we were toast today  (Read 12905 times)

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Re: Thought we were toast today
« Reply #30 on: January 05, 2020, 05:37:07 pm »
Fresh messages just arrived from Jim.




Dear family & friends firstly let me say a big thank you for all your kindness and support. Some of you will follow more of what I write than those overseas but I am sending this out to all as we still don't have telecommunications and I get 1 bar on my phone maybe once or twice a day for a minute or two and receive a lot of messages from you. So I hope this message does reach you all. Can my model steam friends please pass this message on same as my photography friends to the boards, thanks. This is now day 7 with no power, land line phones, mobile phones, Internet. Sewers overflowing, rotten garbage left from the evacuations. Our only access to the outside world is an old 1970s transistor radio I dug out of my shed and had some batteries for it. Roads still closed and still cut off. Getting tough to live after a week without power. Radio says still possible a lot longer yet. But compared to all

longer yet. But compared to all those that lost everything they own except the clothes on their backs its nothing. New year's eve was indescribable the fire storm even though we had prepared ourselves was nothing that can be put in words, the flames, the heat, the smoke, the embers, the incredible noise it made. The wild animals on fire screaming, birds falling out of the sky. Around 90 houses completely gone. Three people know deceased. People drove their cars into the Lake to escape the flames and heat. Hundreds of cars have been incinerated. Aluminium boats melted like wax. We would have lost our three family homes if we hadn't stayed and defended. But it's taken a toll on our health and lungs. Saturday was a repeat of new year's eve. 47 degrees 80klm winds and ember attacks from the West, then the nor'east, then the south. The forests are burnt beyond devastation, everywhere we look is traumatic. Roads still closed and
 
Roads still closed and still cut off. For my o'seas friend January Lake Conjola swells from 300 permanent residents to around 5000 - 6000 with camping holiday makers. All of these people had to be evacuated by police in 50 car convoys to Nowra 80 klms to our north over a few days and nights but hwy being closed repeatedly most of these people sat frightened in their cars for up to 24 hours or more. To finish we are OK, house is full of Ash. Police escorted some trucks in yesterday with fresh food and water and has been passed out to the few residents remaining. Thank you all for your kind thoughts sent through. So very much appreciated, will contact you all sometime in the future when things are better.