To all of our Cute Australian sisters, I pray for each of you every day. I watch the news and I am horrified at the devastation and loss caused by the wildfires. I am very concerned for you and for the lost habitat for the koalas and every other native animal there. I saw footage of one woman who took the shirt off her back and saved a koala from burning to death. I know there are many of you who are just as brave as she was and it is such a helpless feeling to know I can do nothing to help you or your country. I pray that the fires will be put out soon. I pray you will get substantial rain so the land can recover. Your losses are the worlds' losses too. I hope you know that many people in many countries pray for you every day and wish there was someway they could help. You are in my heart.
The devastation so far has been unimaginable, with millions of acres of forest land already destroyed. There has been much human life already lost, and many people still unaccounted for. Property losses are unimaginable. Native animal losses will be huge, as many of the fires are burning in dense coastal bushland where large populations of native animals are found.
Emergency warnings have been announced where fires are burning ferociously, in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia ( including Kangaroo Island) and Western Australia. Southern Queensland is affected also,but they have been downgraded from emergency to `watch and act` status.
I live south of Melbourne, on the Mornington Peninsula, about 250 km ( approximately 150 miles) from the devastating fires in East Gippsland, and the smell and golden haze in the air from the smoke here, is really strong. I can only imagine what the people in the affected areas are having to tolerate. Many of them are trapped by fires all around.
Sadly , our worst bushfire period is not yet upon us. Traditionally, February is the worst month.
These horrendous fires have been burning in many areas since late November, and like my husband and I, a number of Australians have donated money to the Bushfire Appeal in lieu of giving Christmas presents.
Please pray that the affected areas receive rain soon.
Love to all, Barb.
australian-red-cross.giveeasy.org
Their website ;http;//www.redcross.org.au/
Thank you for your kindness and compassion, Barb.
Having no electricity means a lot of people can not evacuate because the ATMS & credit cards don't work,so you can not pay for petrol.
Navy is evacuating 800 people this morning from one area.