Bushfires 2019/2020!

[rogerkambah]

I hope all is otherwise well in your life down there. these fires are so devastating

Thanx @GPH Everything is good and back to normal after Xmas/NY.
Had bags packed and ready to load into car if the fires got too close. Problem was which car to take, but decided on SUV.
P hasn't been out much. It's been too hot and I refuse to put the top up.
Hope you guys are going well. Have a very busy life.

 

[Flying mermaid]

A 24 hour time weighted average is more relevant for assessing exposure.

i am checking both Act health (24 hour rolling average) and AQICN - basically if I want to decide whether to open my windows or water the garden without a mask I want more real time info

this is more information on the nowcast system

A Beginner\'s Guide to Air Quality Instant-Cast and Now-Cast.

How polluted is the air today? Check out the real-time air pollution map, for more than 100 countries.

aqicn.org

 

[love_the_life]

i am checking both Act health (24 hour rolling average) and AQICN - basically if I want to decide whether to open my windows or water the garden without a mask I want more real time info

this is more information on the nowcast system

A Beginner\'s Guide to Air Quality Instant-Cast and Now-Cast.

How polluted is the air today? Check out the real-time air pollution map, for more than 100 countries.

aqicn.org

We've had some windows open today though closed again now as Doma has been removing the trees on the block opposite us and the chipping is rather loud!

 

[Vic]

i am checking both Act health (24 hour rolling average) and AQICN - basically if I want to decide whether to open my windows or water the garden without a mask I want more real time info

this is more information on the nowcast system

A Beginner\'s Guide to Air Quality Instant-Cast and Now-Cast.

How polluted is the air today? Check out the real-time air pollution map, for more than 100 countries.

aqicn.org

Sure, that's fair enough. But with any airborne pollution the length of exposure is also very important. Higher concentrations can be handled over shorter periods of time. This is reflected in the difference between a short term exposure limit over 15 minutes and a time wieghted average over 8 hours or 24 hours.
In general, I would've expected indoor air to be fairly similar to the outdoor air as a long term concentration, over multiple days you'll get good mixing.

All I'm saying is that an average can be just as relevant for assessing long term effects.

 

[Vic]

Any reservists who are engaged through RFS / SES or another voluteer/paid emergency service is exempt
and publicly ScoMo has said any reservists whose property is under threat are also exempt.

Politicians always want the ADF to do more but at the same time cut back on their funding

The compulsory Call out order:

Operation BUSHFIRE ASSIST 2019-2020 - Defence Reserves Support

At the request from the Government, in order to support national disaster relief efforts, the Governor General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) has issued a Call Out Order: Operation Bushfire Assist 2019-2020.

www.defencereservessupport.gov.au

Unless the Call Out has been extended, isnt the Tamworth 12/16 HRL is part of the Townsville based 11th Brigade which was not part of the ?initial? Call out

They're part of 8th Brigade according to the Army website. No armour in 11 Brigade.
Although there was a troop or sqn of 12/16 raised in Brisbane recently, that might be attached to anther formation.

 

[Vic]

There was a good response to these arriving into KI today. If nothing else it makes people feel that others are there to help them and mental health care for the people is extremely important right now.

I'd expect nothing other than a good response.

I question the government's action on this, not the people implementing that action.

 

[Pushka]

I'd expect nothing other than a good response.

I question the government's action on this, not the people implementing that action.

Does it matter? The troops are having a positive impact on those who count. If bureaucrats have their noses out of joint then so be it.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Sure, that's fair enough. But with any airborne pollution the length of exposure is also very important. Higher concentrations can be handled over shorter periods of time. This is reflected in the difference between a short term exposure limit over 15 minutes and a time wieghted average over 8 hours or 24 hours.
In general, I would've expected indoor air to be fairly similar to the outdoor air as a long term concentration, over multiple days you'll get good mixing.

All I'm saying is that an average can be just as relevant for assessing long term effects.

Oh totally agree, which is why I am checking both - paranoid as that might seem . Although to totally fuel my paranoia I should probably be checking my indoor air from the sounds of it ACT health’s advisory is that staying inside is OK, so I am assuming it doesn’t become too bad unless you keep on airing the place.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We've had some windows open today though closed again now as Doma has been removing the trees on the block opposite us and the chipping is rather loud!

I have gone from a fresh air fanatic who opens windows and doors in the middle of winter to keeping everything sealed up. It’s pretty good today I have to admit - my throat isn’t scratchy at all and Mr FM has stopped coughing. To be honest my paranoia is more about him, as he tends to be a bit fragile (and Ms FM, but there’s not much I can do about her).

 

[Quickstatus]

They're part of 8th Brigade according to the Army website. No armour in 11 Brigade.
Although there was a troop or sqn of 12/16 raised in Brisbane recently, that might be attached to anther formation.

I must have got an out of date ORBAT. I thought the 8th Brigade (part of 2nd Div) are made up of the University Regiments?

(Never been in ADF or defence forces

 

[Vic]

I must have got an out of date ORBAT. I thought the 8th Brigade (part of 2nd Div) are made up of the University Regiments?

(Never been in ADF or defence forces

Been a long time for me, hence looking at the Army website. On rechecking the Orbat on the Army website says 11 Brigade and the unit webpage is says 8 Brigade. I'm going to say you're correct.

https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/australian_army_structure_as_at_jan_2018.pdf

12th/16th Hunter River Lancers | Australian Army

12/16 HRL was formed on 1 May 1948, although

www.army.gov.au

Does it matter? The troops are having a positive impact on those who count. If bureaucrats have their noses out of joint then so be it.

I'm not really worried about bureaucrats, more about governance and management of Australia. Bureaucrats don't do that stuff.

 

[Pushka]

Been a long time for me, hence looking at the Army website. On rechecking the Orbat on the Army website says 11 Brigade and the unit webpage is says 8 Brigade. I'm going to say you're correct.

https://www.army.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/australian_army_structure_as_at_jan_2018.pdf

12th/16th Hunter River Lancers | Australian Army

12/16 HRL was formed on 1 May 1948, although

www.army.gov.au

I'm not really worried about bureaucrats, more about governance and management of Australia. Bureaucrats don't do that stuff.

I understand it’s the first time reservists have been called out. Given the circumstances and need for such widespread urgent action - it can’t wait until everything’s made good - as well as the positive impact they are having, then governance can take a back seat for a bit. Their first act yesterday was to bring over and distribute supplies of water to the island - drinking water as they were running out due to power and desal issues.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We've had some windows open today though closed again now as Doma has been removing the trees on the block opposite us and the chipping is rather loud!

Just about to open all mine - if it stays OK then we can take the poor fur babies for a walk this afternoon

 

[Pushka]

SAVEM | South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management

SAVEM is a volunteer Response and Recovery agency working under Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) within the State Emergency Management Plan.

www.savem.org.au

I've know a number of these and have worked quite closely with them on a number of responses and they do a great job. They are all volunteers and not paid by the government but the government supports them with some infrastructure. I think their website is down because there is a link in an ABC story about how to donate to them and it's probably being hammered. If it doesn't come back let me know and I'll message someone and ask what they want.

I’ve heard I think it’s Rachel? a few times now on the radio and they gave this website. Sounds very good indeed. I’ll try again.

 

[Pushka]

And I heard yesterday that the Ligurian Bees on KI were moved and have been saved.

 

[VPS]

I’ve heard I think it’s Rachel? a few times now on the radio and they gave this website. Sounds very good indeed. I’ll try again.

Probably Rachel - she has done an amazing job

 

[amaroo]

Good to see the banks don't miss out.

'We wound up with a $700,000 mortgage': Our reliance on house insurance in disasters can be costly

All too often the disaster of having your home and possessions razed by fire is followed by the disaster of realising by how much you are underinsured.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pushka]

Good to see the banks don't miss out.

'We wound up with a $700,000 mortgage': Our reliance on house insurance in disasters can be costly

All too often the disaster of having your home and possessions razed by fire is followed by the disaster of realising by how much you are underinsured.

www.abc.net.au

Given that premiums are based on what you elect to insure your home for then I dont see that the bank is in anyway responsible for underinsuring. We calculated the cost of clearing, all the permits, and then rebuilding using current requirements and probably added another 10% on top of that. Our premiums were substantial (and I love not having to pay them for our main house now) but we knew we were fully covered. What the bank did or did not do nver came into it.

We have a shack on the River which is at risk of bushfire. It is a shack. A real shack. My mum used to stress out it might get burnt down. We told her not to worry about it, we would end up with a new home. And we also included the cost of the expensive septic system we would have to build if we rebuilt again. And of course we pay higher premiums to ensure we are covered.

 

[amaroo]

Given that premiums are based on what you elect to insure your home for then I dont see that the bank is in anyway responsible for underinsuring. We calculated the cost of clearing, all the permits, and then rebuilding using current requirements and probably added another 10% on top of that. Our premiums were substantial (and I love not having to pay them for our main house now) but we knew we were fully covered. What the bank did or did not do nver came into it.

We have a shack on the River which is at risk of bushfire. It is a shack. A real shack. My mum used to stress out it might get burnt down. We told her not to worry about it, we would end up with a new home. And we also included the cost of the expensive septic system we would have to build if we rebuilt again. And of course we pay higher premiums to ensure we are covered.

I read the article like this....

Say you have a $500K mortgage, and have insured your house for $500K, an event occurs and your house is deemed a right-off. Instead of the insurance company sending you a chq for 500K for the rebuild .... the bank decides to take the money to cover the mortgage.

You're now mortgage free but you now only own a block of land with the scarred remains of a house on it So you need to reapply for a mortgage to re-build, but circumstances may have changed (less income, had a baby, reduced property values, higher rates, etc, etc, etc) ..... not quite the same as getting a big chq so you can start building.

 

[Pushka]

I read the article like this....

Say you have a $500K mortgage, and have insured your house for $500K, an event occurs and your house is deemed a right-off. Instead of the insurance company sending you a chq for 500K for the rebuild .... the bank decides to take the money to cover the mortgage.

You're now mortgage free but you now only own a block of land with the scarred remains of a house on it So you need to reapply for a mortgage to re-build, but circumstances may have changed (less income, had a baby, reduced property values, higher rates, etc, etc, etc) ..... not quite the same as getting a big chq so you can start building.

Ok but from a commercial perspective that makes sense. If your car was a write-off the Finance company would be the first to get their money and you get the remainder if any. You dont get a new car and the same finance deal. And at any time a Bank can re-evaluate a customers ability to pay back a loan if they decide to revalue the property held as security. It is in the fine print and usually occurs every 5 years which in most cases the property has increased in value but our niece who had an investment property in Perth that was revalued got stung very badly.

In the case above I'd hope that the Insurance taken out was well above the mortgage anyway!