Update: ADRA Helping Cyclone, Flood Clean-up

ADRA is continuing to assist people affected by Cyclone Debbie and flooding in Queensland and Northern NSW.

ADRA Emergency Volunteers have been hard at work across the regions hardest hit.

Evacuation Centre staff at Kingscliff have not only housed almost 200 people in need, they have also taken on the responsibility of catering for 150 people staying in the evacuation centre, as well as providing a transport service to motels for accommodated evacuees.

“Communities have been isolated by the rivers which has cut main access roads, so they are banding together to meet the needs of others in the community, proving Kingscliff is both a resilient and caring community,” Janice Frey, ADRA NSW Emergency Coordinator, said.

The Lismore Evacuation Centre was led by ADRA Emergency Management volunteer Chris Markey. The centre has been open since last Thursday and has accommodated about 200 evacuees. On Monday they received a visit from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and other politicians.

In Northern Queensland, ADRA has been hard at work helping people in cyclone-affected areas.

On Friday, ADRA staff and volunteers chartered a small plane from Townsville to Bowen to distribute 500 litres of water and two generators.

Volunteers helped local residents with clean up efforts by removing fallen trees and branches with chainsaws.

The ADRA team assisted two families who required generators until their power came back on.
The team also helped some elderly locals who were struggling with the vegetation clean up.

On Monday, the team spent the day working on 3 properties in Hideaway Bay and Dingo Beach, near Proserpine. Two generators were placed at households which urgently needed power, including a man who suffers from MS and another elderly couple.

ADRA will continue working at the impact zone to clear debris and to receive volunteer teams who will be organised from local church volunteers over the coming weeks.

South Queensland Conference ADRA Director Irena Larking said ADRA in South Queensland is working closely with local Seventh-day Adventist churches to identify the needs.

All Seventh-day Adventist churches in the affected areas of South Queensland Conference have been contacted to let them know that ADRA Australia is here to assist, where able, in addition to the support provided by disaster management agencies.

If you know anyone who needs assistance, in addition to what disaster management agencies are providing, or you would like to volunteer, please contact your local SDA church pastor. We are working with local church pastors to co-ordinate assistance as we are able.

Click here to support ADRA’s response to Cyclone Debbie.

Your gift today to ADRA’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Fund will support emergency response efforts all around Australia.