Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Minister Mark Ryan, Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll and QFES Commissioner Greg Leach today toured council’s Local Disaster Coordination Centre and flood evacuation centre.
Council’s newly formed Local Recovery and Resilience Group updated the Queensland Premier on the city’s disaster response, areas that remained inundated and she then met with residents displaced by flood waters and are temporarily residing at the Ipswich Showgrounds.
Local Disaster Management Group Chairperson Mayor Teresa Harding said hundreds of people have sheltered at the city’s evacuation centre including 180 overnight with their pets including dogs, cats and birds.
“We were pleased Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Queensland’s State Disaster Management Group visited some of our hardest impacted residents as Ipswich begins a massive recovery effort after flood waters impacted dozens of suburbs,” said Mayor Harding.
“While we all are enjoying clear skies and slowly falling rivers and creeks and confident we will not see 2011 flood levels, we are by no means out of the woods.
“Our community will be looking for volunteers in coming days, so please register through Emergency Volunteering and GIVIT so that we can reach out to you when the time is right.
“Council and our city’s utility partners are working around the clock to reinstate services, and we ask for patience as we respond to this unfolding disaster with more rain forecast in the coming days.
“The Local Resilience and Recovery Group is assisting with planning and delivering the help our community needs to recover from this flood.”
Local Resilience and Recovery Group Chairperson Councillor Kate Kunzelmann said the evacuation centre continues to operate at Ipswich Showgrounds to assist displaced residents.
“While the wild weather has settled for now, there is wide-spread flooding across our region and thousands of residents will continue to be affected for days and possibly weeks,” Cr Kunzelmann said.
“Ipswich is a resilient and caring community, and the best response for our city is a coordinated one with emergency services, volunteer organisations and patience with one another as we begin the recovery.
“If you want to lend a hand in the recovery, help your neighbour, help your family, help a friend and help a stranger when it is safe to do so.”
Council has partnered with GIVIT to manage all offers of donated goods and services, including corporate offers of assistance, after disasters. To see what is needed or to donate, please visit GIVIT.org.au and look for the Storms and Flooding Appeal.
Members of the public can donate through www.givit.org.au/storms-and-flooding with 100 per cent of donated funds received by GIVIT going to affected communities.
Local Resilience and Recovery Group Deputy Chairperson Councillor Russell Milligan said it was important to stay safe and continue to monitor council’s Disaster Dashboard for the most up-to-date road closures, weather and disaster information.
“We have many homes inundated and people displaced across the city, and some residents are temporarily isolated and areas without power,” Cr Milligan.
“There will be plenty of opportunities for those who want to help to get involved once waters have receded.
“To volunteer in the flood recovery please register with Emergency Volunteering on their website and donate money and items through GIVIT.”
>>> To support people impacted by this flooding disaster,
register with register.emergencyvolunteering.com.au <<<
Ipswich residents affected by flooding are encouraged to access financial assistance available through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
For information on Personal Hardship Assistance and Essential Services Hardship Assistance, contact the Community Recovery Hotline 1800 173 349 or visit the Community Recovery online portal at www.communityrecovery.qld.gov.au.
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>>> Financial assistance for flood-affected Ipswich residents
