Helensvale cyclone clean-up: Firies go door to door, school needing major repairs
Fire crews including many fresh from dealing with Cyclone Jasper have been assessing damage to northern Gold Coast homes as a mammoth clean-up effort continues.
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Fire crews including many fresh from dealing with Cyclone Jasper have been assessing damage to northern Gold Coast homes as a mammoth clean-up effort continues.
Officers from the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) were going door to door in streets worst affected by the cyclonic Christmas Day storm to determine where resources were most needed.
Many specialist officers involved had just returned from helping residents affected by Cyclone Jasper in north Queensland before getting the call to head to the Gold Coast.
QFRS officer Dale McVeigh, who was among a team conducting inspections in Helensvale on Thursday, said rescue specialists from all over the south east were on the ground assessing damage and helping residents.
“The Queensland Fire Department has brought in trained firefighters to do damage assessments in the entire affected area,” Mr McVeigh said.
“Our damage assessments are fed back for analysis by local and state government and that information helps decisions to be made in relation to response and assistance.
“As soon as storms come through we are out doing assessments so resources can be deployed where needed.”
Among the properties inspected by Mr McVeigh on Thursday was the Tamworth Drive home of Lucie Simmons and Michael Meudell, which was seriously damaged when a tree tore through its side.
The couple and their daughter were holidaying in Hervey Bay when the storm hit, with only Ms Simmons’ father at the property.
They were due to remain away until January 5 but returned on Wednesday to begin the clean-up process.
“We’ve had a few angels. The lady at the campsite was our first angel. She let us immediately vacate and refunded our money straight away,” Ms Simmons said.
“The insurance have also been great.”
Ms Simmons said they would be staying with family in Canungra while their insurance company arranged emergency accommodation, with repairs expected to take a number of weeks.
Among the difficult tasks facing rescue crews was the removal of a large metal roof which had been ripped whole from a Tamworth Drive house and landed at the back of a nearby garden.
While locals and SES crews have cleared trees blocking roads and driveways, some residents have also been left with enormous downed gum trees to clear from the back of gardens.
Council contractors had on Thursday also begun the enormous task of clearing downed trees and branches from piling up on the side of streets in the area.
Temporary fencing was erected around Helensvale State School, where major damage was done to a classroom block which was struck by a giant gum tree which fell on it.
The school’s chaplain Ben Findlay, who is also running for election to council, said he had inspected the damage with principal James Forrest on Boxing Day morning.
He told the Bulletin significant work would be required to repair the damaged building, but the rest of the school was not too seriously affected.
Mr Findlay also praised the efforts of residents who had banded together to help each other out.
“The community spirit has been massive.
“Everyone has been getting out and helping and doing amazing stuff. It’s just been amazing to see that community spirit,” he said.
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