Sea of sorrow, strength of many as big names help with flood recovery

Rapid building assessments are underway across flood-stricken Northern Rivers with 900 properties in one town deemed ‘unlivable’.

The aftermath of the Lismore flood is beginning to be revealed Lismore starts the clean up, as the flood water recedes. Residents and workers of Lismore clean up the damage to households and businesses following the 1-in-500 year catastrophic flood. 2 March 2022 ©MEDIA-MODE.COM

Nine hundred properties in Lismore have been deemed “unliveable” as checks begin on the devastation of the catastrophic floods

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin confirmed more than 1000 properties have been deemed unliveable in the region.

The State Emergency Services began rapid building assessments on Saturday.

“Some are unlivable right now,” she said.

“It doesn’t mean you have to knock it down but some (properties) are off their stumps or are twisted and are unsafe.”

SES commissioner Carlene York said across Northern NSW where 4000 damage assessments had been conducted on houses and more than 2000 homes were unliveable.

“This will take weeks, if not months to help those communities get back (to a reasonable level),” she said.

“There is extra accommodation for those who are homeless or effected by the weather.”

She said 2000 ADF troops will be on the ground into Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

She asked any community members in isolated members to utilise their aircraft and boat resources by contacting 13 77 88.

She said efforts were now being made to get remaining telecommunication networks back up and collecting rubbish around the region.

Sea of sorrow, strength of many as big names help

Heart-wrenching scenes and the indomitable spirit of residents have been the dual observations from a senior Rural Fire Service member after an initial four-day stint on the flood-stricken Northern Rivers.

“The things that surprised me, though they shouldn’t have, were the sheer overwhelming nature of the situation and the community spirit,” Inspector Michael Brougham said.

“In Lismore we drove through on Thursday morning and the place was lined with thousands of people just getting on with the clean-up.”

The RFS has set up a base camp at Wollongbar TAFE.

Mr Brougham, ordinarily based at Coffs Harbour, was sent north to serve in the incident management centre supporting the State Emergency Service.

He had two helicopter flights of the ravaged district and said “the expanse of water is unbelievable”.

Clare Warner, a volunteer firefighter from Valla brigade in the Nambucca Valley, is on her first RFS out-of-area deployment, and has been helping with the clean-up, most recently at Mullumbimby.

While the sad scenes had burnt deep, Ms Warner said the residents were relieved and delighted to see people come to their aid.

One of the crew’s job was to drain and clear the sludge from a backyard swimming pool.

“The lovely couple fed us lollies and fresh pineapple,” Ms Warner said.

Popular locals on the North Coast are meanwhile digging deep to help the region recover.

Evans Head and Woodburn native Callum Robson will donate 20 per cent of his earnings from the MEO Portugal Pro to the recovery in his hometowns.

The pro surfer has been raising awareness overseas while he competes in Portugal, making a shout out to his community back home during his post-surf interview on the beach.

Evans Head surfer Callum Robson is donating 20% of his Portugal winnings to flood recovery in Northern NSW.

“To everybody at home in Northern NSW and southern Queensland going through floods, I’m blown away by all community support,” he said.

“There’s a link in my Instagram bio if anyone wants to help out, there is donations in my bio that will go straight to the community to help with food, fuel and generators.”

A shipping container floated into the second story of Robson’s family home while the floods were raging.

Popular Youtuber and larrikin Willem Powerfish (aka Willem Ungermann) has provided tens of thousands of dollars of support for the people of Northern NSW.

The Far North Coast man donated more than $50,000 in supplies and cash for flood affected residents.

He also offered shoppers $100 each from a $10,000 tab at the Tweed Valley IGA in Murwillumbah to help people stock up on food and supplies.

The Powerfish also bought and donated machinery and equipment to help with the recovery including generators and pressure washers.