Hi, BTN. I'm Jonathan Davies, an 11-year-old from Townsville.
I think it's safe to say
that we've been experiencing some pretty crazy weather recently.
My name is Jessica, and today I'm at the evacuation centre
near the school in Huonville.
Hundreds of people have had to come here
because their homes have been under threat from the bushfires.
In different parts of the country,
kids like Jonathan and Jessica have been dealing
with different, but equally scary, natural disasters.
In Tasmania, bushfires have been burning
for more than a month,
destroying native forests and houses,
and forcing hundreds of people to evacuate.
This is Paige, she's been at the evacuation centre
for a few days now.
So how have you and your family been affected by the fires?
Our family has been affected by the fires
because our neighbours have had some of their houses burnt,
and they're really close to our house.
Jessica and Paige say they've seen lots of helicopters flying overhead.
The choppers have dropped thousands of litres of water
to try to control the fires and to keep people safe.
So we are hoping that everything is going to be OK.
All the emergency services people are working super hard
to try and control the fires
and help all the people
who have had to, unfortunately, leave their homes.
Meanwhile, in Far North Queensland,
it was water causing all the problems.
Lots and lots of water.
While it is the wet season here at the moment,
there's been way more rain than expected.
In fact, more than a year's worth fell in just one week.
Yes, so this here, lots of water because they opened up the dam.
They opened up the floodgates of the dam.
So all this water is coming in
and the dam, which is normally never full,
but it's really full right now,
as you can see, look at it.
I once rode a bike along there.
I'm not riding my bike there anymore.
Jonathan's house escaped the worst of the floods,
but his friend Mir had to evacuate.
Their house is underwater.
I could have just left it at that, but instead,
I decided to give him a call.
Mir's house is one of at least 2,000 homes and businesses
that have been badly damaged.
There was also the danger of rising floodwaters.
At least two people died and lots of people had to be rescued.
Animals needed some help too.
We've had eight dogs, six cats, a python and a lizard.
Oh, and a guinea pig as well. Can't forget the guinea pig.
Although there was one kind of animal that didn't seem too bothered.
Mir actually had a croc in his suburb
very close to his house.
So that was pretty cool.
But there have been heaps of crocs all over the place.
So, you know, anything that's green and looks like a crocodile,
try not to approach it, kids.
Luckily, the rain here in Far North Queensland
is finally easing up,
while some wet weather in Tasmania was cause for celebration.
(RAIN POURS) It is loud!
And it's really heavy.
It's fantastic.
In both states, schools have reopened,
and people are beginning to return home,
although many are still facing months of cleaning up,
rebuilding and recovery from these devastating disasters.