2010 Gascoyne River flood

2010 Gascoyne River flood

16 December satellite image of the tropical low that caused the flooding
Date	16–21 December 2010
Location	Gascoyne River catchment in Western Australia
Deaths	None reported
Property damage	A$100 million (preliminary)[1]

The 2010 Gascoyne River flood was regarded as the most severe flood to take place along the Gascoyne River in Western Australia on record.^[2] Triggered by record-breaking rainfall, amounting to over 6,000 percent of the monthly mean, 313.6 mm (12.35 in) and 5 mm (0.20 in) respectively, in just four days, the floods caused widespread damage in the region. By 17 December, the river began to rise in response to the heavy rains, eventually exceeding its banks within two days. Water levels reached record values at three stations along the river, cresting at 15.53 m (51.0 ft) near Fishy Pool. Evacuation orders were issued for several towns affected by rising waters. The most substantial impact was felt in Carnarvon where entire homes were washed away. Following the disaster, emergency supplies and funds were distributed to affected residents to aid them in restoring their livelihoods. Though no people died in the event, an estimated two thousand head of cattle perished and damage was estimated at A$100 million.

Background

On 11 December 2010, a

Climatologically, the region affected by the floods is a dry area, with annual rainfall in most areas averaging between 200 and 300 mm (7.9 and 11.8 in). December is regarded as the third-driest month of the year, with a mean rainfall of just 5 mm (0.20 in).[1]^[3] Prior to the event, much of the Gascoyne River catchment was suffering from a drought and many places abruptly shifted from drought conditions to record floods in less than 24 hours. Additionally, the river had no water flow before the floods, being a dry riverbed.^[1]

Between 16 and 20 December, the low produced heavy rains over much of the area around

Once the river overflowed its banks, flood waters spread through vast agricultural and grazing areas, severely damaging crops and killing an estimated two thousand head of cattle.[1] By 19 December, evacuations had taken place in rural parts of Carnarvon, with 200 residents residing in emergency shelters. The entire town was isolated from surrounding areas as flood waters cut off all roads; however, the main centre of the town remained untouched due to levees that were constructed in 1960. One person had to be rescued by a police helicopter after he was swept away by strong currents.^[10] Large portions of the North West Coastal Highway were shut down due to flooding for several days, hindering travel in the region.^[11] In Yalgoo, six residents required an airlift after becoming stranded in their home. A total of 30 people were rescued by helicopter on 20 December in Gascoyne Junction.^[12] Two days later, the entire town was evacuated and displaced residents sought refuge in Carnarvon.^[13] The most severe losses took place in the horticultural plantations which flank both sides of the river in Carnarvon, and in small communities and stations upriver. Several homesteads near Gascoyne Junction were washed away in the floods.^[14] and the center of the Gascoyne Junction township was referred to as an, "obliterated ghost town."^[2] Additionally, one person stated that he lost 50 percent of his banana crop.^[14] Throughout the affected area, preliminary assessments placed damage at A$100 million.^[1]

Response

By 20 December, arrangements for the delivery of emergency food and water supplies were made and expected to reach Carnarvon later that day.^[10] Supplies were also sent to outlying Aboriginal communities affected by the floods. After evacuating on 20 December, residents were allowed to return to their homes two days later in Carnarvon. However, most were left without power and clean water and required assistance from local agencies.^[13] Following the disaster, there were concerns that the Australian government could have prevented at least some of the floods by following through with a flood mitigation program. Dudley Maslen, the President of The Shire of Carnarvon stated that he did not want to place blame on any agency, though hoped for improvement during the future.^[14] More than 100 local government areas and regions were declared natural disaster areas on 21 December, encompassing areas from central Western Australia to the Pilbara coastline.^[15]

By January 2011, much of the nation's attention had shifted from the Gascoyne flood to the devastating floods in Queensland. Many residents struggling to get their lives back together were frustrated with the government and demanded aid. Though people affected by the floods were to be given A$15,000 in funds, they expressed further anger after hearing that residents in Queensland would receive A$25,000.^[16] On 11 January, Prime Minister Julia Gillard stated that the imbalance in funds was to be corrected and residents of Western Australia would receive equal amounts to those in Queensland.^[17] By 20 January, donations for flood victims from the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund exceeded A$1 million.^[18] Power restoration, especially in Gascoyne Junction, was unusually sluggish. Dozens of residents were without power for eight weeks, as electricity was finally restored between 12 and 13 February. This coincided with the arrival of replacement furniture from Paraburdoo; however, heavy rains renewed flooding and prevented most residents from picking up the supplies.^[19]

See also

• 2010–11 Australian region cyclone season
• 2010–11 Queensland floods – catastrophic flooding in Queensland
  that began around the same time as the Gascoyne flood.
• Cyclone Olwyn

References