Snr Sgt Adrian Rieck said police at Burketown helped by fireys to assess damage in flood-devastated community.
As the skies clear and floodwaters recede, Mount Isa District Disaster Coordination Centre said police at Burketown are being assisted by firefighters to assess damage in the devastated town.
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As residents impacted by the worst flood on record for the Gulf of Carpentaria brace themselves for the worst when they return home, police at Burketown are still assessing inftracture and houses ahead of people returning as the water slowly recedes.
On Saturday at the Mt Isa District Disaster Coordination Centre (DDCC) Senior Sergeant Adrian Rieck said officers on the ground at Burketown were working with other emergency services to assess the damage to properties in the flood-devastated community.
“We are still completing all of the damage assessments for the houses which suffered from inundation,” he said.
“We are trying to get essential services ready, we are almost there with water, power and sewerage”.
Snr Sgt Rieck said Queensland Fire and Rescue Services were leading the damage assessments of Burketown’s infrastructure and homes.
“We have the fireys completing damage assessment of houses so we can properly categorise them,” he said.
“Extra police are being flown in every three to five days rotating in and out to support staff based here to assist with business as usual as well as things like fodder drops.”
Snr Sgt Rieck said planning is underway for the gradual repatriation of residents and essential workers as soon as is safe for them to return to their homes.
Snr Sgt Rieck said at this stage no deceased persons had been found.
“It will be another four to six weeks before roads open if we don't get any more rain,” he said.
“The clean up will take a long time based on where the town is and Queensland Police will remain here to support the community.”
SUPPORT PACKS FROM GATTON POLICE OFFICERS
Snr Sgt Rieck said Mount Isa DDCC and Burketown Police would like to thank a group of QPS officers from Gatton, who have donated more than 300 support packages including toiletry items, for vulnerable persons displaced by the flood emergency.
Meanwhile, QPS said monitoring of water heights of the area continues as this record flood moves through the Georgina Catchment and Department of Communities and Housing personnel have deployed to the declared area to provide support to all our affected and displaced people.
Water supply in Burketown is being restored, but remains on restricted pressure and food resupply is continuing as required and police are assisting with fodder drops for livestock as needed.
“THE WORST FLOOD EVER”
The floodwater may be slowly receding, but for hundreds of residents in the Gulf of Carpentaria, but a hard slog clean-up lies ahead.
They may have got out alive with family and a few precious items, but many are dreading the return to their flood decimated property and face how their beloved animals and livestock fared.
For Floraville Station owner and Queensland Country Women’s Association Gregory Branch president, Kylie Camp and her family, many weeks of cleaning, repairing and replacing at their property situated 71km south of Burketown and 70km from the Gulf are on the agenda.
Mrs Camp, 55, who with her daughter-in-law and toddler granddaughter were evacuated on March 10 from the 94,000ha property on the banks of the Leichardt River to Normanton.
Floods are nothing new for this grazier family, but Mrs Camps said they were all physically and emotionally exhausted from the flood – and are anxious about the future.
One Saturday afternoon, Mrs Camp’s voice broke as she tried to describe the utter despair her family now face.
“This is the worst flood we have ever faced,” she said.
“It’s a mammoth task, it’s overwhelming, we won’t be back in the main house for many weeks, it’s not safe”.
And it’s not only their home which they have to clean up and sort out, there’s also the confronting task of checking which livestock survived and which didn’t.
“We lost stock but we won’t know how much for some time,” Mrs Camp said.
“My husband (Burketown mayor Ernie Camp) and son are still at the station, they are exhausted.
“They work all day, fall sleep and wake up exhausted.”
Mrs Camp said thick mud coated the veranda, floors, lower walls and furniture of the historic homestead where her husband had lived all his life.
But Mrs Camp said among the tears there are also “nuggets of joy.”
“We lost horses and lots of goats but one plucky rooster and four hens, some geese, the guineafowl and the budgies survived,” she said.
“The female dogs we left in the house survived as did all the male dogs we placed on the high ground.”
HERE “AS LONG AS WE ARE NEEDED”
Meanwhile, Queensland Police Service (QPS) confirmed they remain on the ground in Burketown and surrounds to provide ongoing support in the declared disaster area, while major flooding continues.
Snr Sgt Rieck said police would remain in the Burketown community, “as long as we are needed.”
QPS said Mount Isa DDCC are committed to ensuring all affected communities have support available to them.
Several air assets, including the RACQ Life Flights AW139 helicopter, are stationed nearby and on standby 24/7 for health emergencies, and the transport of food, water, and medical supplies.
If residents are concerned, they are encouraged to contact their local police or shire council offices and we thank local media for their support.
Were you impacted by these floods? Contact us at editorial@news.com.au
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