UAE residents tell of flood destruction back home in Australia

Millions of dollars in damage as extreme weather hits Brisbane region

State Emergency Service volunteers launch an inflatable rescue boat in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday. EPA

A resident uses a pedestrian bridge as floodwaters inundate residential areas in south-west Sydney. AFP

SES Unit Commander Kevin Jones surveys floodwaters in Sydney's Windsor suburb. Getty

Fire and rescue officials arrive in a flooded area of Windsor after Hawkesbury River burst its banks. AFP

A home is almost completely covered by floodwaters in Windsor. AFP

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared a national emergency in response to flooding across New South Wales. Getty

The state of emergency allows the government to provide more resources to communities affected by flooding. Getty

Hundreds of thousands of people were told to seek safety elsewhere as parts of Australia’s south-east coast were inundated by the worst flooding in more than a decade. Getty

Resident Ken Bridge stands on a pile of his flood-damaged furniture outside his home in Lismore. AP

A woman kayaks with her dog as she navigates around her flooded neighbourhood in Sydney's Windsor suburb. AFP

Cyclists look out at rising floodwaters in Windsor after Hawkesbury River burst its banks. Getty

A used car showroom is inundated by floodwaters in Windsor. AFP

Residents assess the damage as floodwaters recede. Getty

The NSW Northern Rivers areas are now facing a housing crisis as thousands of homes have been left uninhabitable following the floods. Getty Images

Raindrops as heavy as cups of water and river levels rarely seen in Australia have flooded the Brisbane homes of some Dubai residents.

A young family in Downtown Dubai who returned to Brisbane for a family holiday have described the overwhelming force of nature that flooded properties and caused rivers to burst their banks on the east coast of Australia.

Daniel Gill, a partner in a rope access company in the UAE, said his one bedroom rental apartment and his parents’ two bedroom, third floor flat were damaged when some of the heaviest rains recorded in Australia flooded homes in West End, close to the Brisbane River.

“It rained for three days straight and it was the heaviest I have ever experienced,” said Mr Gill, who is in Australia with his wife and nine-month-old son.

"The drops on the umbrella felt like entire cups of water were hitting it.“

But it wasn’t just the relentless rain.

Brisbane’s drinking water comes from reservoirs formed by dams built outside the city in a large catchment area. These dams we already at capacity and the city had to let out water in a controlled release, which added enormous volumes to the river.

It was this, along with the extensive amount of rain, that caused the river to burst its banks and affect residential, commercial and industrial areas.

“This is the second flood my parents have been through as the same thing occurred back in 2011," said Mr Gill.

“We had enough warning to get cars to higher ground but the rain was relentless and lasted much longer than anyone anticipated which meant the water rose rapidly and well above the expected levels.”

Floods across Australia's south-east submerged homes, farms and bridges, killing more than 21 people.

Torrential rains lasting for days finally eased on Thursday.

More than 4,000 military personnel were sent to the region to assist with clean-up operations, while the government has paid out about A$385 million ($282.9m) to help flood victims across the country.

While Mr Gill said he was without power for four days, some streets had not electricity for 12 days.

“We were fighting to build and maintain sandbag levees but it was in vein as the water levels exceeded what sandbags could have protected [properties] from," he said.

“We were too busy managing the water to get all personal effects out and once the water breached the levees there was nothing that could be done to save any further items.“

Given that it happened previously in 2011, the insurance companies have tightened policies in flood-prone areas so very little is able to be insured.

The clean-up started as soon as the water receded, which was about two days after it stopped raining.

"This time we were a little more prepared and we parked lifts on the top floor and isolated power to the lower levels, which dramatically reduced the damage by not shorting electrical circuits," said Mr Gill.

“Power was cut by the electrical authority for safety reasons and was only restored once the buildings were proven to be safe.”