NSW, QLD bushfires: How you can help those in need

Australia is reeling as firefighters battle “the most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen”. Here’s how to help those affected by the devastation.

NSW is preparing for catastrophic and unprecedented conditions in what could be the most dangerous bushfire week in Australia’s history.

The state is facing a threat it has never seen before, Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said, adding: “I just hope we get through that OK.”

Three people have died in the fires, 100 people have been injured, including 20 fire fighters, and at least 150 homes destroyed — but those figures are expected to rise.

“I think we are all a bit shell-shocked and coming to terms with the death of our friends and coming to terms with losing all of our belongings and our structures and our homes and our lives,” Glen Innes mayor Carol Sparks said yesterday. Two of the three fatalities occurred near the town, and damage has been widespread.

“We’re going to have to have a big rethink about the future of our community,” she said. “We have lost so much.”

Here’s what you can do to help those affected by the devastation.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison comforts Owen Whalan, 85, at Club Taree Evacuation Centre on Sunday. Picture: AAP Image/Darren Pateman

MAKE A DONATION

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army launched The Bushfire Disaster Appeal to allow Australians to support the communities affected.

The appeal will position the Salvos to move beyond the current support of evacuees and emergency personnel and into the sustained effort required through the recovery and rebuild phases to come.

The Salvation Army’s Emergency Services teams are active at 12 evacuation centres in NSW and Queensland, and they hope to raise $3 million, with a $500,000 contribution from leading corporate donor Woolworths already.

They explain exactly where your money could go:

• $80 “can help to provide household essentials during an emergency.”

• $125 “can help reach isolated families in an emergency.”

• $250 “can help provide urgent immediate assistance, like food and shelter.”

• $1000 “can go towards ongoing care and support in the aftermath of the emergency.”

THREAD #NSWFires Bushfire Support: GoFundMe for the MidCoast area (Old Bar, Wallabi Point, Rainbow Flat, Bobin and more) - will keep adding official pages as I see them, please comment any more below https://t.co/kQtn63IghI

— Laura Polson (@laura_polson) November 9, 2019

GoFundMe

Several GoFundMe pages have been set up to help those living in areas on the NSW mid-coast that have been destroyed by fires.

In the past 72 hours, over $250,000 has been raised via the more than 215 campaigns to support both the victims and firefighters.

• Mid Coast Bushfire Relief

• Willawarren and Bobin Residents

• Wytaliba community.Nearly $30,000 has been raised.

•Rainbow Flat and Hillville

NSW Rural Fire Service

A NSW Rural Fire Service and Brigades page has been created to “help our heroes”. You can also donate to the organisation via credit card or via direct deposit:

Account Name: NSW Rural Fire Service
Bank: Westpac BSB: 032-001 Account No: 171051

To request a receipt email your name, date of deposit, amount and address to [e-mail]

Cheques and money orders can be posted to:
NSW Rural Fire Service
Locked Bag 17,
Granville NSW 2142

Australian Red Cross

You can also donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery by calling 1800 811 700 or making a donation online.

Red Cross will use the donations to help affected communities by providing aid as well as stocks of critical disaster response equipment, including water filtration, shelter, hygiene and cooking kits for use in emergencies.

RELATED: Saving your home against bushfires

Volunteers from the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital treat a burnt koala that was rescued from the fire ground. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Help the wildlife

Hundreds of koalas are also estimated to have been killed by the bushfires that raged near NSW’s Port Macquarie, with rescuers desperate to find survivors.

•To help koalas in the mid-coast area,visit the Koalas in CareFacebook page to donate. The organisation is asking for donations such as Napisan, disposable gloves and cottonwool balls, cordless clippers and leaves.

• Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has also organised a fundraising appeal to help the wildlife affected in that area. Over $100,000 in the past 72 hours has been raised, with donors from 30 countries.

• The Rescue Collective, in conjunction with Animal Rescue Freecycle and Support is collecting donations on behalf of smaller rescues to help badly burned wildlife who have been impacted by the bushfires.

FOR THOSE AFFECTED

For those who’ve lost their homes to the fire, the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and the Disaster Recovery Allowance has been activated to provide financial assistance. Payments will provide $1000 for adults and $400 for children.

There is also a Disaster Recovery Allowance that provides 13 weeks of income support to compensate people for loss of income. Fire victims can contact Centrelink to receive their payments.

Wytaliba resident Storm Sparks holds her son Zeke Bacon as she waits to get back to her house at a roadblock near Glen Innes. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS, LICENCES AND NUMBER PLATES

According to Service NSW, registration and licensing concessions and refunds will be offered to customers if their vehicle or other relevant documentation has been lost, damaged or destroyed during the fires.

BIRTH, MARRIAGE OR CHANGE OF NAME CERTIFICATES

Certificates that have been destroyed as a result of the fires can be reissued at no charge.

An application form for the issue of one will need to be sent into a disaster recovery centre.

TOLLS

The $40 tag security deposit/s on an RMS E-Toll tag will be waived if a tag has been lost, damaged or destroyed during the fires.

HOME BUILDING CARDS

Service NSW is offering free replacement of Home Building cards for any lost in the bushfires.

To apply for a replacement card, use the Application for a Duplicate Licence, Certificate or Permit form.