Cyclone Yasi - Be safe Queensland.

[JosephLeo]

So there is a major cyclone/hurricane brewing off the coast of Queensland and it's headed in the area already ravaged by record floods. My thoughts and prayers go to all the people who are already lost by these incidents, and I ask that if any TechNibble members are there that they inform their families, friends and co-workers and evacuate immediately. This storm is no laughing matter as it already has winds reaching 200km/hr (that's a strong category 4 hurricane) and is predicted to get up to 250km/hr (That's over 150mph wind, SUSTAINED, or a category 5 hurricane)

This storm is already being called "Australia's Katrina" and in terms of potential destruction- it is above par thanks to the already soaked lands. To add further insult to injury (or, injury to injury) Queensland is home to Australia's sugar industry- an industry that will likely result in a lost year of profits. Also, it is home as well to a major source of Australia's coal. Over 1,000km of coastline is expected to get hit by the storm or to put it in terms other people can understand, in the U.S. that would be from Miami to the North East tip of North Carolina. Or, in the UK, well...you would be completely engulfed in the hurricane.

So please Qld'ers, be safe.

P.S. If you wish to donate money, all while skipping the charity organizations who take precious cents out of your dollars, donate directly to the Queensland's government's relief fund. links are in my signature.

 

[MobileTechie]

One thing I've never understood about these things: If someone dies of a terrible illness they get sympathy and not a lot else. If they die or even just lose their home in well publicized event, people want to give them money.

 

[JosephLeo]

I can't speak for the world, but it might be because it's more of a massive event. It actually goes against, yet compliments the saying "A death of one is a tragedy, but a death of many is just a statistic"

Personally, I donate to help the living get through and recover from their losses. What can be worst that losing a child to a flood, a sibling to a fire, a loved one to an earthquake. Can you imagine losing your life's work wash away as if it was nothing? I'm not a material person, but certainly I am a sympathetic one and hate to see people in pain.

Also, I would love to donate to organizations who give money to people who are suffering with non-terminal illnesses that is transparent about where my money goes, penny by penny. Another thing I like to donate to is Toys for Tots since the thing I actually buy to donate is actually going to a child DIRECTLY.

 

[Bryce W]

This storm is a big one.
Its a Category 5 hurricane thats 500kms wide with winds expected to reach 320km/h (198mph)

To give people around the world a scale of actually how big this bad boy is, here is it superimposed over the US and Europe:

USA:

Europe:

I am down in Melbourne at the bottom of the country so it doesn't effect me, but its pretty bad that the Queenslanders just got slammed with floods and now a hurricane.

 

[ATTech]

One thing I've never understood about these things: If someone dies of a terrible illness they get sympathy and not a lot else. If they die or even just lose their home in well publicized event, people want to give them money.

If you lose a child or a lived one; money isn't going to help. If you lose your house and belongings, money will help.