at least 30,000 homes across 30 low-lying suburbs and follows a low-lying suburbs and follows a month and a half of flooding month and a half of flooding across queensland. across queensland. the worst natural disaster in the worst natural disaster in the state's history is how the the state's history is how the state remeres described it. state remeres described it. further inland, authorities are further inland, authorities are stepping up their search for stepping up their search for dozens still missing, with the dozens still missing, with the death toll expected to rise, the death toll expected to rise, the cost of cleaning up and cost of cleaning up and erebuilding is estimated at $5 erebuilding is estimated at $5 billion. billion. andrea? andrea? >> and that is ian williams in >> and that is ian williams in brisbane. brisbane. president obama is preparing to president obama is preparing to be one of the mourner, one of be one of the mourner, one of the eulogists for a memorial the eulogists for a memorial service for ambassador richard service for ambassador richard holbrooke. holbrooke. chuck todd is nbc news chief chuck todd is nbc news chief white house correspondent and white house correspondent and co-host of "the daily rundown." co-host of "the daily rundown." this is a tough week emotionally this is a tough week emotionally for this white house, and the for this white house, and the administration. administration. richard holbrooke, hard to richard holbrooke, hard to describe. describe. >> right. >> right. >> larnler than life is the -- >> larnler than life is the -- >> one of the phrases used a >> one of the phrases used a lot. lot. very fitting.