b'When the waters roseIn November 2010 Queensland experienced one of the mostand headlamps to make the thirty-floor pilgrimage up hot devasting floods in the countrys history. The firm watchedand dark fire stairs, led by a member of the Special Air Service the Brisbane Rivers banks break, flooding the city. The firmsRegiment. The adventurers were greeted with enthusiastic office in the Riverside Centre was evacuated and everyoneapplause from colleagues on their return. rushed to check their loved ones were safe. It was weeks before the office reopened. By January 2011 Brisbane andStaff members joined Brisbanes Mud Army, a team of much of the state was declared a disaster zone. around 600 Australian Army troops and 6,000 civilian volunteers who, with gumboots and pressure hoses, helped Brisbane office practice director Erin Feros established athe clean-up effort. Other staff members were involved workplace on higher ground in the city at the Sofitel Hotel.with Baked Relief, coordinating food and refreshmentsLaptops were flown from Sydney, photocopiers werefor flood victims and volunteers.sourced, and a makeshift reception created in the hotels conference room. Queenslands community spirit prevailed, but the destruction was widespreadthirty-three people lost their lives and We had everything up and running at the hotel within28,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. The repair bill two days, explains Feros. It was like a big classroom withwas estimated at $2.4 billion.everyone working alongside each other.In February and March 2022 extensive rain again hit large Still, important hard copy documents remained in the officeparts of South East Queensland and northern New South and emergency services allowed only a brief period each dayWales, and devastating floods followed. to extract critical materials. With the lifts out of operation, the firm chose its fittest employees to gear up with backpacks Floodwaters in Brisbane, 2011.227'