Disaster Relief Australia, a veteran-led organisation, has launched a flood recovery operation in a bit to help Northern Rivers residents recover from catastrophic flooding.
The operation will focus on home and property repairs aiming to get the community safe, secure, and warm.
In response to the February floods, Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) conducted its largest disaster response activity since the inception of the organisation five years ago.
More than 700 volunteers responded to 526 requests for help from early March to May 8th.
Five months later, more than 1,000 Lismore individuals are still without a home and staying in temporary housing. Only 20 per cent of businesses are currently open.
Residents are camping on their properties or staying with relatives and friends.
Some have returned to their mould-affected, uninhabitable homes, while others are couch surfing or living in tents or cars.
For Disaster Relief Australia CEO Geoff Evans, it’s personal.
‘Lismore is my hometown and many of my family and friends who still live there were impacted by the recent floods,’ Mr Evans said.
‘I experienced many floods in my youth, but nothing so severe as the floods that occurred in February and March of this year.
‘These floods were unprecedented, entering many homes that had never flooded before.
‘I am proud to be launching Operation Riordan, named for NSW-born army nurse Ellen Agnes Meline Riordan.
Disaster Relief Australia will be working with local community disaster recovery organisation, Resilient Lismore, to ensure the recovery efforts are integrated with local knowledge and systems.
Elly Bird, Director of Resilient Lismore, said: ‘Resilient Lismore is really pleased to be working with DRA on their return to the Northern Rivers. There is still so, so much work to do in Lismore and in surrounding communities and we know that their expertise in disaster relief will be a big assistance in our community.’
‘We will be working with DRA to close out some of the big jobs that we haven’t been able to manage with our own volunteers and we will also be inviting some of their teams to help us with our two rooms project which is focused on restoring safe, secure and warm housing for people who need it.’
Wayne O’Brien joined DRA in 2021 as bushfires raged through his local Perth Hills. Now manager of the Western Australian Disaster Relief Team, Wayne is finding himself on the other side of the country leading the operation as Theatre Commander.
‘With assistance from community-run organisation Resilient Lismore, we will assist locals and businesses in getting back on their feet,’ Mr O’Brien said.
‘We hope to make a big impact and bring real help to the region.’
‘We’re always looking for motivated volunteers to bolster our numbers and are urging Australians everywhere to work alongside DRA members experienced in disaster recovery work.’
Those wishing to volunteer can sign up on the Disaster Relief Australia team in minutes, with the mobilisation team able to get people on the ground within days.
A base of operations will be located at the Southern Cross Football Centre in East Lismore and will run from 13th August to 11 September 2022. Funding permitting, the operation could continue until 26 September.
To register for assistance: https://floodhelpnr.com.au
To volunteer: https://disasterreliefaus.org/field-ops/operation-riordan/
To donate: https://disasterreliefaus.org/donate-to-flood-relief/
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