Australia floods cause US$1 billion in damage as thousands flee, national emergency expected to be declared

Tens of thousands of residents from Sydney and Brisbane and nearby regional areas have been forced to flee their homes as extreme rainfall and persistent flooding wreaked havoc across Australia’s east coast.Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to formally declare a national emergency on Wednesday, as he visits one of the worst affected areas, handing the government more powers to deploy aid and defence force personnel. The floods on Tuesday left hordes of commuters stranded around…