Special By By Robert G Cope Sep 11, 2010 in Environment While eighteen rivers are on flood alert, Australians are not complaining. Most residents are helping themselves with sandbags even tying trailers to trees as they smile and say, "No Worries, mate." As I watched one double-wide being tied with chains to a massive Red Gum by a trailer-living resident of River Haven, a caravan park, in Murchison, he too said, “No worries,” Wearing an ankle-length raincoat, the resident, pointing to the nearby river (one of eighteen on flood watch), said, “Just in case.” The 'Mighty Murray” as the Aussies say, is among the world's longest navigable rivers – ranking it among the better known Amazon-to-Yangtze-class water routes. The Murray, however, very nearly dried-up over the past ten years of drought when the Mississippi-style paddle-wheelers, requiring only three feet of water, were scrapping bottom. Black-smiths are now busy making anchor chains longer. So far none of Victoria' rivers have done more than turn adjoining paddocks into tree-studded shallow lakes, but the army has been placed on notice should evacuations be necessary. With more rain expected in two days and the snow beginning to melt, ducks are rejoicing. Only free-range chooks are complaining. Australia's Mississippi, the River Murray, is higher by twenty feet. Rains after ten years of drought started ten days ago. Yes, there are town meetings about possible floods, but among the broad smiles, I hear the typical Aussie, “No worries.” That was also the flood assessment by both women I asked at the river Port of Echuca, 200 km north of Melbourne: “No Worries,” followed by, ”She'll be apples.”As I watched one double-wide being tied with chains to a massive Red Gum by a trailer-living resident of River Haven, a caravan park, in Murchison, he too said, “No worries,” Wearing an ankle-length raincoat, the resident, pointing to the nearby river (one of eighteen on flood watch), said, “Just in case.”The 'Mighty Murray” as the Aussies say, is among the world's longest navigable rivers – ranking it among the better known Amazon-to-Yangtze-class water routes. The Murray, however, very nearly dried-up over the past ten years of drought when the Mississippi-style paddle-wheelers, requiring only three feet of water, were scrapping bottom. Black-smiths are now busy making anchor chains longer.So far none of Victoria' rivers have done more than turn adjoining paddocks into tree-studded shallow lakes, but the army has been placed on notice should evacuations be necessary.With more rain expected in two days and the snow beginning to melt, ducks are rejoicing. Only free-range chooks are complaining. More about Floods, Australia, Rivers More news from floods australia rivers