There have been hundreds of thousands of people affected and thousands of people showing strength and courage beyond bravery. This post is primarily inspired by two such people, Linda Weston and Robert Wilkin from Grantham who were interviewed on the ABC. Click here to watch the video. (
This is a strong community, it really is. And a lot of people will support each other like they're doing now. But we're just going to need more help with cleaning up and that's basically what it's going to be all about. And if everyone stays strong with what's happening now we'll be fine. Just a bit of extra help will go a long way....We had no rain two years ago. It was that dry we had dust. Now we've got too much rain. What do you do? It's feast or famine. So, you've got to be strong and just keep going. That's the Australian way.The aim is to seek some ideas on how we can best help Queenslanders without getting in their way. The mandatory constraints will include: working with the organised relief effort not going off half-cocked; and helping affected people get back on their feet, not taking over from them.
Disaster plans have different major components, including rescue, relief and recovery. The rescue stage is all hands on deck in a coordinated fashion, doing what can be done as the disaster is happening. The relief stage is getting funds to people who need it, and providing food, clothing and shelter as well as counselling and other services to those in need. Please donate what you can here.
The recovery stage is huge. It will include rebuilding all the roads that have been washed away. Rebuilding the railway tracks and the airports and the ports. Rebuilding government offices and businesses and homes that have been damaged or totally destroyed.
The scale of the devastation is unprecedented in Australia's recent history (of the last 200 years).
Along with the huge large scale efforts just to rebuild basic infrastructure, individual households and small businesses will be wanting to get back on their feet. People will be suffering shock and many will continue to be suffering from the trauma for many months and years. It's hard to be at your most efficient for extended periods under such circumstances. The entire populations of many towns and cities will need help and support, much of which they will get from working together. Maybe a bit of help from outside will get them back on their feet sooner.
I thought I'd kick off this post with a couple of ideas that would particularly suit the GOMMS, who have more time than cash and who are fit and healthy:
Recovery working bees: After the 1974 floods, relief weekend working bees were organised to help households clean up. Maybe a few GOMMs (grumpy old maids and men) would be able to give their time to work alongside those getting back on their feet. It would be dirty work but you might make some new friends along the way. There are many grey nomads who will undoubtedly help. This could be a way to find out if the life of the grey nomad is for you :)
UPDATE: Here is where to volunteer to help out in Queensland:
http://www.emergencyvolunteering.com.au/
Respite: Maybe Queenslanders will eventually be ready for some respite. Maybe some GOMMs can open their homes and holiday homes so that those who've been worn out can take a breather in an environment where they are not facing the effects of the disaster every day.
Would love to hear other suggestions or refinements to the above. If there are a few people who want to band together to do something down the line, post comments here. In a few weeks this disaster may drop off the media radar but the recovery process will have only just begun.
Please donate to help those in desperate need after the Queensland floods.
UPDATE: Don't forget those in northern New South Wales who are now being inundated by flood water. Nor those in Western Australia who are trying to recover from record floods in December 2010.
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