Überschwemmungen in Victoria 2011

Vorlage:Infobox flood High intensity rainfall over the Australian state of Victoria between 12–14 January 2011 caused major flooding across much of the western and central parts of the Australian state of Victoria.

Many of the towns were previously affected by the 2010 Victorian floods, however the 2011 event was more severe, affecting at least four times as many properties. As of 18 January, more than 51 communities had been affected by the floods. Kevin Parkyn, a senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology said "Victoria is experiencing one of its worst flood events in its history" after "a week in which rainfall totals have been smashed in parts of Victoria". Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Terry Ryan said "It's the worst flood in western Victoria in their history as far as our records go in terms of the depth of water and the number of places affected" and by premier Ted Ballieu as "one of the biggest floods in the state's history".

Rivers affected by the floods include the Wimmera River, Loddon River, Campaspe River and the Avoca River, while the Werribee River and Yarra River also broke their banks causing flash flooding.

The floods inundated the city of Horsham as well as the towns of Charlton, Rochester and Carisbrook while other settlements severely affected included the city of Shepparton and the towns of Beaufort, Glenorchy, Rupanyup, Echuca, Bridgewater on Loddon, Creswick, Clunes, Kerang, Warracknabeal and Skipton.

Background

An already soaked Victoria from extensive flooding in September 2010 had its wettest January in recorded history in January 2011.

A weather system that affected South East Queensland during the 2010-2011 Queensland floods moved south.Vorlage:Fact Record levels of humidity (over 96%) caused a large storm cell to form over Victoria, causing high winds and torrential rain in the west of the state as well as northern Tasmania and parts of South Australia.

During the downpour, flash flooding saw houses and businesses inundated in places including Halls Gap and Beaufort, however it was not until the downpour began to subside (and fair weather returned) that the accumulated water caused waterways across the region gradually to swell and break their banks.

Early warning and evacuation

Rising rivers lead to evacuations in many other towns in central and western Victoria

• Allansford & Jubilee Park, Victoria - 10 people evacuated on 16th January to Archie Graham Centre. Frank Street and Station Street sandbagged.
• Charlton evacuated to Donald
• Glenorchy
• Rupanyup
• Carisbrook - 1,000 evacuated to Maryborough
• Creswick
• Halls Gap
• Kerang
• Quambatook
• Warracknabeal
• Quantong
• Dimboola
• Jeparit
• Kerang - 224 residents evacuated
• Horsham - 1,000 households told to evacuate

Waterways affected

• Wimmera River
• Loddon River
• Campaspe River
• Avoca River
• Hopkins River
• Werribee River
• Goulburn River
• Yarra River
• Mount Emu Creek
• Yarriambiack Creek

Settlements flooded

• Carisbrook - covered by "four or five feet" of water. Around 1,000 people were evacuated after two creeks broke their banks and inundated the town.
• Beaufort - creeks running to Lake Beaufort broke their banks, flooding the town's main street.
• Ballarat - record rainfall in Ballarat (95 millimetres) caused Canadian Creek to swell to its banks. The first spill-over of Lake Wendouree since 2002 occurred after it had been artificially filled in 2010 filled since drying up due to drought in 2007. A dozen homes in the outer suburb of Miners Rest was inundated as the Burrumbeet Creek overflowed.
• Creswick - evacuated after the Creswick Creek breached its banks flooding the town centre. 35 homes and businesses were breached by water in the largest flood in the town's recorded history.
• Halls Gap - evacuated after flash flooding and landslides threatened to cut off the town.
• Horsham - flood waters divided the town in two. Areas close to the centre of town are under up to a metre of water. Flooding has been described as a one-in-200-year event.
• Charlton - more than 400 houses were flooded. An electrical substation was also affected, cutting power to 8000 properies in the towns of Birchip, Boort, Donald, St Arnaud. Wedderburn and Wycheproof
• Skipton - split in two by Vorlage:Convert of water through the main street of town, flooding the pub, supermarket and pharmacy. This was the second time Skipton was flooded within four months.
• Bridgewater on Loddon - two flood peaks were experienced, the first on the 14 January and the second the following day. The floodwaters affected around 50 homes, as well as the police station, caravan park, hotel and other businesses.
• Rochester - worst floods in its history with around 200 houses, representing 80% of the community, inundated.
• Shepparton (and Mooroopna) - over 50 homes flooded and 500 homes isolated
• Kerang - Levee failed on the 19th of January, causing widespread flooding affecting nearly 4,000 people
• Warracknabeal

Deaths

On 18 January, a police diver found the body of a boy who went missing in a flooded billabong, off the Goulburn River, on 17 January at Shepparton in north-east Victoria.

Response

The State government launched a A$7 million relief package, including a A$5 million clean-up fund and a A$1 million public appeal coordinated by the Red Cross. The Federal Government pledged A$4 million in relief funds.

See also

• 2010–2011 Queensland floods
• 2010 Victorian floods