Cyclone Alfred’s impact on our community was immense. Sure, the impact wasn’t as violent as other recent disasters, but the pressure of the cyclone was experienced beyond barometric readings.
Across the region communities, neighbourhoods, and families were tested – our preparedness was tested, our resilience was tested. We made it, whether isolated, or overwhelmed in an evacuation centre, we made it through together due to our learnings and our survival through previous disasters. But we were not unscathed.
Since the disastrous 2022 flood we have implemented learnings and created new response systems. Some are on an individual or family level – such as a 12v solar system, generator, or a solid plan for caring for each other and our pets. Some are on a neighbourhood level such as communication at a street level around weather warnings, road closures or evacuation locations; and communications with local SES and community were dramatically improved. There were increased evacuation centres that were resourced to service needs at a community level. Others are at a systems level including: increased emergency alerts; Service NSW payment processes were announced quickly; online donation platforms; businesses coordinated donation items and took the pressure off community centres handling all the donations.
There were undeniable improvements in system responses. However, we are learning about frequent and diverse emergency response processes due to climate change and we must continue to adapt responsiveness based on these experiences.
Local community-run centres are at the front line of response and recovery. They are here through all phases or preparation, evacuation, response, and recovery because they are part of our community. They know all levels of community from the mayor, to the workers of government departments, to the emergency workers, to the rough sleepers. They have knowledge, relationships, and commitment to caring for our community and a holistic response to disaster management. Unfortunately, they are not receiving the resources needed and are forced to consider crowdfunding to provide food relief – which is really just the top layer of the issue.
Core government funding needed
‘Community centres and community-led organisations are at the front line,’ said Fiona Hunt, manager of the Murwillumbah Community Centre that continues to work with the community of Murwillumbah and its surrounds who were impacted by the cyclone flooding.
‘We are here for the celebrations, the everyday, and the hard times. We are known and trusted. During recent weeks we worked closely with our community and the evacuation centre to keep people safe, meet needs, and recover.
‘We don’t get funding to do this, we just do it. The core role of community centres in disaster and crisis response should be acknowledged and funded. Community centre funding in NSW is appalling and less than other states whilst we face some of the toughest challenges.’
Neighbourhood and community centres need ongoing core funding to keep their doors open and so they can be available to respond to regular climate emergencies. Over the last ten years our neighbourhood and community centres have been with us through bushfire, Covid, many floods and now the cyclone (not to mention housing and domestic violence crises) and the ongoing pressure to continue without core funding is putting our workforces and communities at risk. These are our community-controlled organisations with roots in local communities and they deserve resourcing.
‘Since 2017 we have responded to successive disaster events. We do it without funding because we are part of our community,’ explained Julie Williams, manager of the Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre.
‘The impacts are compounding for community members but also for those of us at the coal face. Without an injection of resources ongoing, or at least between events, how can we possibly continue to be the communities back-up power supply. Sooner or later we are just out of juice.’
Out of touch
Current government approaches favour funding large consortiums or faith-based organisations. This leads to a lack of understanding of the local landscape, and a need to lean in on place-based organisations. This can result in safety being compromised at the very time the goal is to keep people safe. There are reports across multiple locations that the provision of safe spaces and food was an issue with local organisations then having to fill the gaps without funding.
‘Running on the smell of an oily rag is giving us a headache. We have some target funded programs, mostly domestic violence specific, but everything we do outside of those programs is unfunded,’ Julie continued.
‘We are not saying we won’t continue to support community in disaster but with every event, it is increasingly difficult. We’re creative and flexible, enormously grateful for our volunteers, and will continue to do what we can, it’s just getting really hard.’
Increasing disasters
The unmeasured and unmet need is in the collective and complex trauma from all these emergencies, that are occurring closer together and more regularly, and the toll on mental health. I know my nervous system was fried to the point of manifesting back pain that was so bad I couldn’t walk. I could barely resource the work required to treat the symptoms, our wellness system is yet to develop the programs to address the cause. More conversations are needed on how we de-escalate from these emergencies as individuals and as communities.
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