What can we do

[artme]

to help out the flood victims????

[Woodwould]

Start drinking?

[Scott]

The Salvo's (http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/media-centre/current-media-releases/emergencies-across-australia.html?s=1511093170) is a good start.

[rsser]

Yes, good call sjt.

More specific woody's help will need to wait 'til after the big cleanup.

Maybe donations of wood, tools and consumables.

The water came close to TTIT in Emerald in the last flood. Hope he has his Stubby well off the ground this time.

[Skew's_Girl]

Just got a message from Vern,

"Stuck in Victoria while my house has a foot of water through it and I can't do a thing about it! Just jumped on a 'puter to catch up on things.[...]
Most of the town is underwater and we don't know when they will let us fly back - gotta have somewhere to go first.
Happy new year eh! [...]

Stay in touch - modem is underwater at home so might be a long time before I can reply.
Cheers
Vern. "

He had a beautiful hollow form under his egg stand that's no doubt bobbing around. :C

Like Rsser said, we'll probably have to wait until the water subsides and find out what's salvageable and what people need.

[AlexS]

Immediate assistance is best in the form of money, through organisations such as the Salvos. Later on, sympathy, wood, tools & consumables as Rsser said.

[rsser]

Thanks for passing that on SG.

We have space here in Melb to accommodate him and would be very happy to help.

[rsser]

Added: if he's with his partner, no prob.

And if in Ballarat can pick them up.

Will also PM him.

[artme]

Thanks for the info SG. I PMd him earlier today but no reply yet.

When SWMBO fets back from Sydney We will discuss sneding some spare furniture. It will need a bit of repair but will tide someone over untilthey get on their feet.

I' even given thought to loading stuff on the trailer and taking a trip up to give a practical hand. Don't know if it's feasible yet.

[Skew's_Girl]

What might be helpful until the tide subsides is just offering room/board to a fellow WW from that area. Here on the forum would be the most obvious place to post availability, except the refugees probably wouldn't have internet and the forum might not be the first place they'd look for a hand. Maybe just grapevine?

There's shelters for evacuees, but from personal experience a home is so much more comfortable and easy to sleep in. That and feeling you have friends really takes the weight off.


I' even given thought to loading stuff on the trailer and taking a trip up to give a practical hand. Don't know if it's feasible yet.

I'd say 'yeah, a skilled tradesman'd be awesome!' except you might get caught in the rising waters and be in the same trouble as them.

Unfortunately, sometimes the best help is keeping a calm focused head. I'd follow the Salvos' lead. They've got training in disaster management.

[rsser]

So are you part of the grapevine SG?

Or should I put my efforts elsewhere?

[Skew's_Girl]

Unfortunately from Canada I can only classify myself as 'the peanut gallery.'
Even if I tried to mail something it'd take 2months to get there.
I really really wish I was there and could do something.

[acmegridley]

I cant see them having an early recovery from the floods underwater up to the eave?
I have visions of Gyprock falling of walls,bearers and joists never being straight again,wiring corroded etc etc
And Julia and Anna have given them a milion dollars already! that equates to about a bog roll each ,what about six-seven billion maybe?Roads,railways, infrastructure ,the whole shooting match destroyed not withstanding productive capacity of companies, farmers etc
Iis only when the water recedes will the true story reveal itself.
My prayers are with them:(

[artme]

Well said Acme!! I was only thinking today about how generous our response was to the Boxing Day Tsunami. Why do we not have an equivalent response here, even given the access our citizens have to gov funding through disaster relief and hardship clauses.?

SG, I'm not tradie but I have built my own house and renovated several others, so I feel I have some skilss that can be put to good use. I think there are many like myself in the same boat. Just a matter of getting some sort of organization around making use of the willing and their skills.

[munruben]

The floods are widespread here and in this country distance is a real problem; some of the flood zones are hundreds of km's away so some suggestions are not practical.
Knowing what to do to help is the thing. Is giving cash the answer? and if so, will the victims of the floods receive the cash in their hands?. I know from past disasters in this country that funds, that were donated and collected, were not distributed totally for many years after the event and in some cases, some people who were effected by the disaster, didn't get a bean, its things like that which makes me reluctant to offer to give cash. I would prefer to make some contribution directly to an individual in some way and know that I have definitely helped someone.

I see plenty of furniture that has been tossed out by residents in our area and is recycled by selling it at the local tip outlet. Some of this furniture is in really good condition and maybe the local council or body that controls the sale of this stuff should load a semi trailer and send it to where it is needed most at the moment. After all, it is our furniture that we have tossed out in the first place and I am sure none of us would mind it going to some of the flood victims if it can help them out, if only temporarily and the council would be doing something worthwhile for a change.

Maybe local councils should make an appeal for local residents to take usable furniture and clothing etc to the local recycle tip or community centre and arrange to have it shipped to the most needy at this time. I'm sure most of us could find or spare piece of furniture or article of clothing or bedding or something from our own home to help out.

My heart goes out to those caught up in the floods.

[artme]

Got to agree with you on the furniture issue John. Might duck into the local council on Tuesday and see whlat can be done.

I'm sure if a group of woodworkers got together we could restore a stack of furniture to good usable condition.

[RufflyRustic]

Care packs?

Broom, dustpan and brush, a roll of cleaning cloths, a general purpose spray & wipe, dishwashing liquid, soap, scrubbing brush, bucket, a couple of tea towels, a roll or packet of garbage bags, a bottle of bleach and a bottle of disenfectant.


toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, comb, deoderant, face washer, hand towel, bath towel, a couple of hair bands


:?

[artme]

Great minds think alike Wendy.

Saw a newsreel clip today and in a box of gear being loaded onto a truck were a couple of boxes of mosquitoe coils. That got me thinking along the same line as you.

[kiwigeo]

Dont think any of my guitars would be that useful...unless you used them to paddle rafts with.

I'm giving cash....seems the most useful form of aid at this stage.

My thoughts go out to any of you affected by the floods.

[elderly]

I agree cash would seem to be the way to go at this stage. This is what i am doing.

[RufflyRustic]

insect repellant! how could I forget that??

um, basic first aid kit, sunscreen, hat,


yeah, a donation would be best, well easier, at least. Though i do think the furniture idea is a brilliant one.:2tsup:

[rhancock]

Cash is definitely the way to go, if you want to get the most bang for your buck. The sort of stuff they need right now is industrial quantities of survival stuff like food and water, and cleaning products. The three levels of governments and the charities who specialize in these areas are very well prepared for situations such as this. Have a look at Australian Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org.au/ourservices_acrossaustralia_disasteremergencyservices_Queensland-floods-2010.htm) and Home » salvos.org.au (http://salvos.org.au/) and State Emergency Service (http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/SES/) for example.
They already have teams of people, some paid and some volunteers, who are trained in advance and ready to go. They also have supplies and suppliers ready in advance.

If you want to make the most difference, either in donating or in volunteering, you need to do it in advance. A flood like this is not unusual, although the scale of it is, and there are also bushfires, transport accidents (like the Bundaberg train crash) as well as cyclones, etc. So, by donating in advance, or registering as a volunteer in advance, you can be sure of being the most use, at an incredibly chaotic time, when there isn't time or people to deal with a large number of inquiries about donations or assisting.

A regular donation, or registering as a volunteer, means that you are sure you are helping in the most useful way.