It's been an emotional last week for Will Power. The IndyCar star's hometown of Toowoomba, located in the northeastern part of the country some 80 miles west of Brisbane, has been hit with torrential rains, a rare inland tsunami and destructive floods over the last week, causing widespread property damage and killing as many as 15 people.
Power, who now lives near Team Penske's headquarters in North Carolina, kept track of his family's status through Facebook and by phone. Power's parents own a canvas-making business in Toowoomba that was damaged. Fortunately, no one in the family was injured.
"The family business did suffer some damage due to the floods, but compared with many we got off pretty easy," said Power, who finished second in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series championship standings driving the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car. "My family has been very fortunate in that their house is situated on high ground and their home escaped the ravages of the floods."
All three Team Penske drivers – Power, Sydney, Australia native Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves – have donated signed memorabilia to be auctioned off to raise funds to be given to flood victims.
A large area of Queensland, Australia, has been affected by the floods in and around Toowoomba and toward the southeast in Brisbane, Australia. The clean-up efforts have really just begun in the region. Those wishing to contribute to the cause can do so by visiting http://telethon.smartservice.qld.gov.au/ – a site set up by the Queensland government to aid flood victims.