Flood assistance - Latest news - Saturday 12/03
TODAY’s GENERAL UPDATES
(last updated Saturday 12/03 at 11:54 pm)
Hey, let’s talk about something boring but really important: your safety. Yesterday, our update introduced the concept of trauma-informed practices that we can all apply to better support each other (see https://www.resilientbyron.org/latest-news/thursday1003), today we zoom in on our health.
Firefighters and other professional rescuers have a golden rule, which is everyone’s responsible for their own safety. That makes sense, no amount of PPE or policies can protect you from your own behaviour. But it’s also a rule valued by responders as this is something they do day in, day out. They don’t want to make the situation worse, and they’re in here for the long haul. So they better take care of themselves.
We, the community can learn from this. Let’s be aware and raise each other’s awareness about the very real risks to our health and mental health and take precautions even as we so generously help others. Take some safety precautions and spread the word.
SAFETY
. Mosquitoes! Seriously beware of these lately. The most common mosquito-borne diseases in the Northern Rivers are Ross River Virus and Barmah Forest Virus but the floods have exacerbated the risks of getting other mosquito-transmitted diseases.
Ross River virus, which causes fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain and fatigue. It’s not fatal but it can be debilitating, and is the most commonly reported mosquito-borne disease in Australia
Barmah Forest virus is also common and causes fever, rash and sore joints
Flaviviruses, including West Nile (Kunjin), Murray Valley encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis virus are extremely rare but can cause severe brain infection and death, in a small proportion of cases.
Check how you can mozzie-proof your property after a flood and cut your risk of mosquito-borne disease. According to A/Prof Webb, you can:
Spray insecticide but it is a short-term fix. As many commonly used products are not specific to mosquitoes, beneficial insects may also be killed if not used with caution.
Repair, replace, or install insect screens on windows and doors to provide a physical barrier to mosquitoes seeking to fly inside your home.
Deploy mosquito nets.
In your backyard, clean up as much debris as is safe to do so. Water-holding containers will quickly become a home to mosquitoes.
Gutters, drains and rainwater tanks can also be home to mosquitoes, so clean out and screen where possible.
Mosquito repellent may be your best friend over coming weeks. There is a range of formulations available from your supermarket, pharmacy or camping store. Choose a product that contains diethyltolumide, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus as these products will provide the best protection.
To get the most out of your repellent, ensure you have an even coat on all exposed areas of skin.
There are some alternatives to topical insect repellents, such as mosquito coils and other devices, but they can be limited in the protection provided.
Insecticide-treated clothing may also assist in beating the bites.
. Beware of contaminated mud, basically everything you touch. Wear gloves, masks if you can, long pants and appropriate boots (if you don't have them you can ask at Mullum Civic Hall or donation collection centers) Do not touch your face when you are cleaning houses, do not scratch any open wounds.
. Asbestos! It was mostly used in construction between 1960-1980. ONLY PROFESSIONALS with proper equipment can remove it, but if you know or suspect you are faced with some broken asbestos in your house, call 000. You don’t have to feel pressured to clean a house if you don’t feel safe in it.
. Begin to be aware of psychological emotional exposure. Not over exposing oneself (there are people who have not yet appeared, or very affected people who need space and time to process/state of shock and previous traumas) and over exposing the victims themselves.
. Go to Council’s website for important information on mould / rainwater tanks / septic systems / swimming pools / mosquitoes and increased danger after floods / Water quality on beaches, creeks and swimming holes https://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Home
MENTAL HEALTH and WELLBEING
. We introduced in an earlier of our update, the concept of trauma-informed practices which we can all apply to better support each other - see https://www.resilientbyron.org/latest-news/thursday1003
. A website and Facebook group were created to coordinate healing spaces in Mullum, but also for practitioners to register and residents to book treatment: https://healmullum.com/ / https://www.facebook.com/groups/healinggifts
. The Wellbeing during Floods Byron Shire and Beyond facebook group has been created to help support those who have been affected by the floods - a platform for yoga, meditation and somatic: https://www.facebook.com/groups/356784056164355/
. You can find here resources tailored for disaster on Head to Health: https://www.headtohealth.gov.au/search-resources
. If you need support you can also call one of the following numbers Lifeline Australia | 13 11 14 / Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800 / MensLine Australia | 1300 78 99 78 / Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467 / Beyond Blue | 1300 22 4636 / Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling | 1800 011 046 / Mental Health Access Line 1800 011 511 (North Coast Area Health)
. Resources for young people: Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800 / Free confidential 24-hour counselling for young people aged 5 to 25 eheadspace / Online counselling for young people 12-25 years ReachOut
. Resources for LGBTQI+ people: Mindout / National LGBTI mental health and suicide prevention project QLife
. Resources for carers: Carers Australia | 1800 422 737 / Mind Australia | 1300 554 660 /
. Counselling for eating disorders: The Butterfly Foundation | 1800 33 4673
. If you don’t feel like you can call any of the above services, you can also: talk to someone you trust / contact your GP, a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist / visit a hospital emergency department
. Alcohol and Other Drugs: The Buttery 02 6687 1111 / INTRA YOUTH SERVICE They can arrange to meet you at one of our offices, at a youth service, or at another place that is safe and convenient: 02 6687 1111
(Shout out to Leone for putting this list together!)
SERVICES
. Get notified about floods rental support scheme: The scheme will provide up to 16 weeks' rental support to flood victims in temporary accommodation and is scalable on the number of people per household, including children. The scheme will launch in the coming weeks – register here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/register-interest-floods-rental-support-scheme
. The Recovery centre at the Civic hall continues to be staffed by staff who help flood impacted residents find support, financial assistance and information available. The assistance includes: Clean-up services; Financial assistance; Insurance and legal support; Support for businesses; and Mental health and wellbeing services. New services added: Suncorp Group – Home and Car insurance; Auto General – Home insurance, North Coast Community Housing. For those wanting to be assisted remotely, Service NSW is operating an information service via www.service.nsw.gov.au, and with Customer Care specialists available on the phone via 13 77 88.
. Resilience NSW now has Recovery Centres operating in Ballina, Casino, Grafton, Kyogle, Lismore, Maclean, Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah. Where you can get support with: accommodation advice / replacing lost documents / mental health and wellbeing services / support for businesses / clean-up services / financial assistance / insurance and legal support. Address details and open times of these Recovery Centres can be found at www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/recovery-centres
. If you have lost any certificates, licences, permits or registrations as a result of the floods, you may be eligible for a free or low-cost replacement. This includes: Licences & registration for vehicles & boats / Fishing Licences / Birth, Marriage, Change of Name & Citizenship certificates / Medicare Cards / Business Licences, including Liquor & Gaming, Fair Trading & Safe Work / Family law documents https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/identification-licences-and-personal-documents
GRANTS
. For the Australian Government Disaster Relief Payment and the Disaster Recovery Payment and to find out what you are eligible for: Call Services Australia on 180 22 66 or visit their website https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ As well as myGov website and Service NSW website (including Storm and flood assistance for businesses: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/storm-and-flood-assistance-businesses)
.If you’re a small business or non-for-profit organisation in NSW and you've been directly impacted by the storms and floods, you can now apply for a small business flood recovery grant of up to $50,000. This disaster recovery grant is government support to help pay for the costs of clean-up, reinstatement of daily operations, repair damaged premises, and replace stock - to get money back into bank accounts as quickly as possible. For more information and to apply, call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/floods.
. Vinnies are offering emergency assistance grants to impacted individuals ($1000, $2,000, or $3,000) are being provided to flood-affected residents depending on criteria including the level of damage their property has sustained, the size of the family, and insurance status) - see media release: https://www.vinnies.org.au/.../Vinnies_offering.../
COMMUNICATIONS
. Starlink satelites system were donated to community hubs in Palmwood, Upper Huonbrook, Main Arm Shop, Upper Main Arm Kohinur, Wanganui, Huonbrook, Lillium café, Upper Wilson’s Creek and Lower Wilson’s creek.
FOOD
. The Council warns that food businesses need to be aware that any food, food surfaces and cooking utensils that have come into contact with floodwater might be contaminated. Use only drinking-quality (potable) water for activities on food premises such as washing up or rinsing. Do not salvage canned food for resale. Ensure that discarded food cannot be collected by member of the public.
TRAVEL AND COMMUNITY
. CATCH A RIDE is a new group that connects people who have lost their transportation in the floods with volunteers who can offer a ride. If you have lost your means of transportation due to the floods or if you can volunteer to offer a ride, please join this Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/914704942545471/
. This coming week, Community Transport are providing a free shuttle bus to the Mullumbimby Recovery Centre for people impacted by the floods. At this stage, they will service Billinudgel, South Golden Beach, New Brighton, Ocean Shores and Brunswick Heads. This is a trial, and Council will add more communities to this.
. There are services that offer cash for flood-affected cars and pick up cars that are not insured.
Ballina Auto Recyclers can pick up cars that are not insured, and offer cash for flood-affected cars. (02) 6681 4170 | ballinaautorecyclers@gmail.com | http://Ballinaautorecyclers.com.au
Lawler Transport is servicing Lismore and surrounding areas. https://www.facebook.com/Lawler-logistics-transport-100577562537647
VOLUNTEERING
. Several websites and facebook groups have sprung up in the past few days to match volunteers to existing needs, such as the Northern Rivers Volunteer Directory: https://nrvd.org/, the Byron Shire Urgent Flood Assistance facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/489175689244002 or the Northern NSW 2022 Floods Community Clean Up & Help: https://www.facebook.com/groups/378550323696457. Feel free to use the one that works best for you while efforts to reduce duplication are ongoing.
. However, anyone who wants to support Mullumbimby and its surrounding communities should come to the marquee on the left hand side of the Mullum Civic Hall and you will be guided by the community Flood Support coordinators for a range of clean up, logistics and other tasks, plus they have a very specific donations list to check out when you are there.
ACCOMMODATION
. Residents looking for accommodation can initially go to the Recover Centre and speak with DCJ Housing. DCJ can assist with temporary accommodation, social housing applications and other housing products.
. People can also call Service NSW on 13 77 88 to request emergency disaster accommodation.
. Link2Home provides immeidate hotel accommodation: https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/ways/are-you-homeless
. Grants towards initial rental costs – providing a scalable grant to individuals and families for short-term temporary accommodation while their home is being repaired. This grant will be available to people not otherwise covered by insurance, and will increase according to the size of the household.
. . Get notified about floods rental support scheme: The scheme will provide up to 16 weeks' rental support to flood victims in temporary accommodation and is scalable on the number of people per household, including children. The scheme will launch in the coming weeks – register here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/register-interest-floods-rental-support-scheme
. Get notified about floods temporary housing support package: The Temporary Housing Support Package will help people who need accommodation support in the coming weeks and months. The package will include: temporary housing options for rural land owners / mobile motor homes / temporary accommodation in recreation clubs / access to the Red Cross housing brokerage service - register here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/register-interest-floods-temporary-housing-support-package
. Habitat - Donate a Stay - calling local Airbnb & Accommodation owners: https://www.habitatbyronbay.com/donateastay
. Important note on evictions (initially shared by Barefoot Law (https://www.facebook.com/BarefootLawMullum). “A landlord cannot evict a tenant from residential premises unless they have an order from NCAT. A landlord or tenant may terminate (immediately) a lease if the premises are uninhabitable or unusable but whether that is reasonable will depend on the facts. The property might for example be habitable after a proper clean up and maybe minor repairs. If you want to stay or return to the property because you think it is habitable you should tell the landlord or agent immediately. You can also ‘push pack’ and challenge the termination in NCAT - and you can tell the landlord or agent that too. You should also know that all tenants are entitled to a rent reduction or suspension (abatement) if the property is not useable in full or in part. Generally a flood clean up will be the responsibility of the owner and you are entitled as a tenant to be reimbursed for your expenses and for the cost of any repairs up to $1000. Please note the Covid moratorium ended in February and is no longer in force. If you have specific queries please get in touch with Barefoot Law.”
WASHING
. Northern Rivers Laundry Train: https://www.facebook.com/groups/638739783873624/
PETS & LIVESTOCKS
. Emergency Flood Relief for Animals https://arcsupport.org.au/floods
. Flood Displaced Livestock - Northern Rivers Find missing livestock. https://www.facebook.com/groups/479454900379779/
ROADS
. Please report road damage via the ReportIt tab on Council’s website and be as specific a as possible. Pin-point the locality or provide a street address, and provide a photo if you can.
. Please read the Byron Shire Council’s latest update on this: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=325877929571189&set=a.157216763103974
WASTE and REPAIRS
. Repair café in Mullum. Volunteers at the Repair Café are doing all sorts of magic to bring goods back to life but need electricians and mechanics - 91 Main Arm Rd.
. The clean-up and recovery phase across the Shire continues. See the Byron Shire Council’s latest daily update: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=325877929571189&set=a.157216763103974
A reminder to keep cars off the streets as much as possible, or the trucks can’t pick up your waste. Please put small items and any food waste in your bins to make the clean-up process quicker. Bins are getting collected as per normal unless access is restricted
. The Resource Recovery Centre at Myocum will be open this Saturday and Sunday from 8:30am – 11:30am.
. The Council encourages residents to continue using the additional skip bins for flood waste.
OTHER
. Flood damaged photos: Stephanie shared on Facebook tips to saved your flooded photos: “All that is required is to make sure they don’t dry out until they’re cleaned (even then they might be salvageable). If they’re in albums just submerge them in water and gently tease them out of the sleeves then put them in a tub of clean water. Then you just keep gently rinsing them until they’re all clean. To dry, let any excess water drip off and either hang them up with pegs (might leave a slight dent in the corners) or lay them flat on towels under a low fan. This process will work for pretty much everything, as all photos go through a water rinse before they are dried. Super old cardboard photos might be a problem.”
. Hot shower: There are hot showers available at the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road for anyone whose home has been damaged by the flood or for people who have been working on the clean-up and need to wash. (open daily from 8am to 6pm. Please bring your own towel and toiletries.
. Open Spaces and Playgrounds: Playgrounds across Byron Shire have been impacted and should be avoided until safety checks have been completed over the coming week. Sports fields across the Shire remain closed.
DONATIONS
. Please be mindful with your donations and only donate what is requested.
. Please check the daily whiteboards set-up at the front of different community response centres to know the actual needs and donate only what is requested.
. Rather than giving items that may not be needed, in the first instance please check the list on the GIVIT page, 'What is needed'. Byron Shire has specific items listed by community organisations. You can sponsor these items and they will be distributed to Byron Shire residents affected by the floods, through trusted community service organisations and neighbourhood centres. https://www.givit.org.au/storms-and-flooding
. Financial donations can also be given to Resilient Byron (a registered and audited charity) here: https://www.resilientbyron.org/donate. The funding allows us to support the community across the Northern Rivers in its immediate and long-term recovery and journey and is used transparently. Resilient Byron is a not-for-profit registered with the ACNC and which is independently audited annually.
(You can check previous daily updates here: https://www.resilientbyron.org/latest-news)