Brisbane storm - mini tornado - Bring out the Army

ABC Breakfast posted images of storm damage at The Gap.

Storms described as mini-tornadoes hit western suburbs on Sunday afternoon. At Mansfield we were enjoying steady rain, totally unaware that just a few km away such a furious and destructive force had been unleashed.

Rebecca Levingston Storm Damage photos ABC Breakfast

Radio coverage by Spencer Howson was excellent. Where do you start with cleaning up such an overwhelming situation? The State Emergency Service received more than 10,000 calls and hundreds of residents were without power. Trees were snapped like matchsticks ... it will be days of hard work for volunteers, Energex and Council staff.

At one stage, 150,000 homes were without power as the worst storms since 1984 hit the Energex Network. Thankfully, Energy Minister Geoff Wilson was out cheering workers on as they commenced eating the elephant, one bite at a time to restore order.

I want to hear that hundreds Defence Force members have been mobilised from first light on Monday, hundreds of items of equipment from the neighbouring Enoggera army base being used to make a difference.

Army chiefs knew personally of the damage so it would have been a no brainer that their hard hitting action from first light would make a huge differnce. Establishment of a tent city and meal service to encourage volunteers. Helping those with damaged homes is the priority and Defence has the resources. Courier Mail – Storm Fury

Tuesday morning ... More than 1400 jobs were logged with the SES and way too many still to be completed. Any Government worker living in the vicinity with common sense and safety skills should be directed to use their initiative and get stuck in to help without losing their days pay. Good news that Defence chiefs have been prodded into helping. During the Brisbane flood there were some defence people that frustrated devaastaed home owners as they apparently had orders not to get their shoes and uniforms muddy or their hands dirty. That should have changed.