Veteran organisation deployed to flood clean-up

MORE than 100 Disaster Relief Australia volunteers have deployed to assist communities of the Hunter and Mid North Coast with flood recovery.

The veteran-led volunteer organisation has mobilised its volunteers into communities including Taree, Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Nambucca to begin clean-up efforts after the recent devastating weather event that has hit the region.

Tasked to deploy initially for seven days by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on behalf of the NSW Government, Disaster Relief Australia anticipates its volunteers will be in the area for several weeks.

Volunteers will deploy on seven-day rotations to help residents with multiple tasks including damage assessments, flood debris removal, chainsaw operations, rural fencing and welfare checks.

The organisation will also help coordinate and manage community volunteers who want to help locally.

As a veteran-led not-for-profit, Disaster Relief Australia unites the skills and experience of military veterans with those of other dedicated volunteers to help communities prepare for and recover from disaster.

Disaster Relief Australia Chief Executive Dave Smith said as the transition from disaster response to recovery phase continues to accelerate with each extreme weather event, the organisation remains agile in its support to Government requests to ensure there are boots on the ground to help those in need as soon as practical.

“Disaster Relief Australia is increasingly called upon to step up in the recovery phase of significant disaster events.

“The skills and experience of our veteran volunteers ensures we are well-placed to operate as an efficient and cost-effective alternative to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

“Our role in the recovery phase allows the ADF to return to its primary focus of defence more quickly.

“We continue to work seamlessly alongside emergency response and the relevant disaster management agencies to ensure a smooth transition from one phase to the next.”

This is the second time within three months that NEMA has tasked Disaster Relief Australia to assist post-disaster.

In March, the organisation spent several weeks in South East Queensland to support communities with clean up post Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.