AAP, The Courier-Mail
March 11, 2011 ALMOST every inch of Queensland has been disaster-declared following the state’s devastating summer season. Premier Anna Bligh announced Richmond Shire Council and Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council were the latest local governments to qualify under joint state and federal government natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements today. That leaves Aurukun Shire Council in Cape York as the only council area not disaster declared. “Having 72 of the state’s 73 LGAs activated is just extraordinary – that equates to 99 per cent of the state’s total land area,” Ms Bligh said. “It is another demonstration of the size and scale of the natural disasters that have impacted our state so far this wet season.” … As heavy rain continues to lash the far north, the region could face another cyclone threat within three days. Tony Auden, senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said an active monsoon trough remains over most of Queensland, with a weak tropical low currently off the coast of Innisfail. “It’s not likely but there is a low chance of it developing into a cyclone in the next three days,” he said this morning. “Either way, there will be more heavy rain over the next three days and people in northern Queensland should keep an eye on the tropical low.” 
Mr Auden said the Gulf Country could expect more rainfalls of between 100mm and 200mm per day near the coast, with up to 100mm expected to fall further south and inland to the Gulf. He said between 100mm and 200mm was also expected to fall along the East Coast, especially between Innisfail and Mackay, with the heaviest rain predicted for Sunday and Monday. Already drenched South Mission Beach received 139mm of rain since 9am yesterday. … Mr Auden said Murray Flats, near Tully, had received a “phenomenal” total of 649mm in the past seven days, although he said it was not a record. … Senior Hyrdrologist at the BOM, Paul Birch, said the Tully River at Euramo reached it’s peak of 8.49m this morning and was expected to remain at its peak until this afternoon. He said the Murray River at Murray Flats had drop slightly from its 7.91m peak yesterday to 7.86m this morning. The Herbert River in the Ingham area had started to recede while the river remained at a major flood level near the coastal area of Halifax, where it has remained at its peak of 5.4m for the past few days. By this morning the Herbert River near Halifax had receded slightly to 5.36m. Severe weather warnings remain in place from Cooktown to Townsville, with a rain band now heading to Townsville. Mr Birch said the Townsville area had received 55mm in three hours this morning. … Cyclone-ravaged victims are at breaking point due to flooding and torrential rain, with houses waterlogged, highways cut and landslides threatening roads and homes in the state’s north. Meanwhile, dog-tired State Emergency Service workers have door-knocked flooded Cardwell to help with damaged homes, repair leaking roofs and tarpaulins and to lift furniture and valuables out of harm’s way. More parts of north Queensland devastated by category-five Cyclone Yasi have been swamped under the phenomenal deluge. Schools were shut, work cancelled and residents engaged in a desperate bid to sandbag against raging creeks as roads turned into whitewater rapids because of cyclone debris blocking drains. …
Queensland 99 per cent disaster-declared as flooded north faces new cyclone threat
Why does she call them "natural" disasters?