Concerns over the flooding in northern Australia have reached the Washington University community.

The University of Queensland has sent multiple e-mails about the flooding to the Study Abroad Office, including one with a link to a page of frequently asked questions.

According to the website, most of the campus will be up and running for the start of term.

The floods in Queensland have been responsible for 20 confirmed deaths, and about 10 people are currently listed as missing. Officials estimate the damage at close to 10 billion dollars (Australian).

Despite the assurances of the University of Queensland, students going abroad are still skeptical of their options upon arrival.

“I’m a little more worried than I was a couple weeks ago because they had to evacuate my dorm and the whole university is underwater,” said Ben Winston, a junior in the program. “[The University of Queensland] is not great about communication in general between Wash. U. and our program. It’s a little bit discombobulated.”

Winston is most concerned about living conditions since he doesn’t yet know what housing he has been accepted into and has heard that many areas off campus have been devastated.

Students who go abroad to the University of Queensland tend to study biology or environmental science, according to Jessica Mervis, study abroad advisor for overseas programs.

“They offer classes that let students observe the area that they are in,” Mervis said. This includes a scuba diving field trip in the Great Barrier Reef.

The e-mails from Queensland to the Study Abroad Office at the University have assured that all four of Queensland’s campuses will return to normal operation by Jan. 20.

“The Brisbane flood peaked on January 13, 2011 at a level less than anticipated. While the flood affected low-lying levels of the St. Lucia campus and access to the Gatton campus, the majority of buildings were not affected. The Ipswich and Herston campuses were not flooded. It is almost back to business as usual and classes start for first semester,” the website reads.

Washington University students will be arriving in Australia on February 15 for orientation, and classes will start in March.

According to Mervis, most students will live in dorms on campus, which is one of the advantages of this program.

“They’re living with Australian students, eating their meals there and they can join activities with their residential college,” Mervis said.

Whatever the damages to the facilities, Winston is trying to keep the silver lining in sight.

“Maybe while we’re there we can help out with the clean up and recovery because I know there’s been a lot of damage,” Winston said.