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Oz expats in Houston caught up in devastating floods
| Published: | 29 Aug at 6 PM |
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Thousands of Australian expatriates living in Houston and its surrounding areas affected by the once-in-a-lifetime floods are hunkering down, hoping for rescue and praying the rain will stop.
Houston’s connection with the oil industry and its position as the USA’s energy capital has attracted many Australian companies including Santos, Woodside and BHP Billiton, all of whom have a high proportion of expat professionals living and working in the city. When the devastating tropical storm hit the city with non-stop torrential rain, the Aussie expat community was advised by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs to follow local advice and watch media reports for updates.
David Bryant from Geelong, an expat professional now working for BHP Billington, told local media the roads were now rivers, adding he was holed up in his three storey townhouse along with his seven months pregnant fiancé, a friend and several pet cats. His friend, his fiancé and the cats had already fled their home in another suburb due to a tornado warning and the threat of flooding.
David told reporters they were simply going to sit tight and wait until the water recedes, as they’ve still got power and have plenty of supplies. Due to his still working internet service and mobile phone coverage, he's able to stay in touch with other expatriates and his teammates in the Houston Lonestars AFL club.
Another Oz expat, Morgan Hughes, is co-owner of the Platypus Brewing Pub and lives in the hillside suburb known as The Heights, now an isolated island in a sea of filthy water. He’s cut off from his brewery but is able to monitor the situation, with his surveillance cameras showing no flooding as yet. David is keeping in contact with his staff and his many friends, most of whome are coping well although some have issues and one house is underwater.
In the beleaguered city, hundreds of boats are taking part in a giant rescue effort, saving people trapped in their cars as well as stranded pets and entire families stuck in their homes. Official reports suggest the situation is only going to get worse as the rain continues to fall, and new areas are now flooded after water was released from two dangerously full dams.
Houston’s connection with the oil industry and its position as the USA’s energy capital has attracted many Australian companies including Santos, Woodside and BHP Billiton, all of whom have a high proportion of expat professionals living and working in the city. When the devastating tropical storm hit the city with non-stop torrential rain, the Aussie expat community was advised by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs to follow local advice and watch media reports for updates.
David Bryant from Geelong, an expat professional now working for BHP Billington, told local media the roads were now rivers, adding he was holed up in his three storey townhouse along with his seven months pregnant fiancé, a friend and several pet cats. His friend, his fiancé and the cats had already fled their home in another suburb due to a tornado warning and the threat of flooding.
David told reporters they were simply going to sit tight and wait until the water recedes, as they’ve still got power and have plenty of supplies. Due to his still working internet service and mobile phone coverage, he's able to stay in touch with other expatriates and his teammates in the Houston Lonestars AFL club.
Another Oz expat, Morgan Hughes, is co-owner of the Platypus Brewing Pub and lives in the hillside suburb known as The Heights, now an isolated island in a sea of filthy water. He’s cut off from his brewery but is able to monitor the situation, with his surveillance cameras showing no flooding as yet. David is keeping in contact with his staff and his many friends, most of whome are coping well although some have issues and one house is underwater.
In the beleaguered city, hundreds of boats are taking part in a giant rescue effort, saving people trapped in their cars as well as stranded pets and entire families stuck in their homes. Official reports suggest the situation is only going to get worse as the rain continues to fall, and new areas are now flooded after water was released from two dangerously full dams.
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