The Brisbane office of the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the industry's peak education and training body, has been inundated over the weekend following flood release from the Wivenhoe Dam on Saturday night.
The office, co-located at the home of AIP executive director Nerida Kelton and her husband Mark, in the suburb of Oxley, is almost fully submerged.
At 3am on Saturday, the Keltons were woken by neighbours to news that the street was flooding.
Immediate evacuation was required and the two moved fast to salvage essential documents and hardware from their home and the AIP office.
Both are safe and well, although shocked and watching the flood waters continue to rise with trepidation.
The AIP administration operations will be suspended temporarily while the crisis unfolds and alternative premises are sought.
This is the second time the office has been flooded; it was previously inundated in the Queensland floods of 2011.
The Keltons are devastated but are staying strong in the face of adversity. The AIP community has expressed concern and support.
Speaking to PKN, Nerida Kelton said, "There are so many thousands of Queenslanders right now anxiously waiting for the rain to cease so we can assess the damage.
"In 2011 we had the 'Mud Army' come and help everyone and I have no doubt they will be there again. At the end of the day, we are safe and healthy and that is all that matters. The rest pales into insignificance in a world of such turmoil at the moment."
More than 1400 homes have already been affected in Brisbane alone, as waters continue to rise and rain continues to fall.
As of today, at least 140 suburbs are under threat as the Brisbane River swells, and the City Council is warning major flooding is likely.
