Single mum here with 2 kids with COVID trapped at home by floodwater.in Lismore.
Our car is officially gone - metres of water above the roof.
Thankfully we have cans and noodles until the water subsides… but the rain is relentless.
Hoping for some Government assistance once this nightmare is over so I can buy a new car and get to work and the kids to school. I’m so anxious I don’t think I will sleep tonight.
Has anyone been through this before ? Would love some coping strategies …
8 Replies
Hey, not been through flood before but I did go through a natural disaster last year a cyclone. Centrelink has a natural disaster payment of $1000 per person over 16 and $400 for children. Check to see if you're able to claim now, if it's been declared a disaster it should be ready to claim straight away. You will need to go through your insurance for your car. Also keep an eye on help through state government for grants and charities, no doubt there will be a lot of donations so make sure you see if you're eligible when it's all announced.
You poor mum. How awful for you. Are you able to be inside the house still.? Have some floating devices handy. Boards, life jackets, floaties anything that may help if you need to get on the roof. Pack a small bag of any medications that you may need if your life depends on them. Everything else can be replaced but your lives are most important here. Follow the authorities advice. I hope they can get to you and get you out to a safe place. Don’t worry about your car or anything else right now. You will get it sorted out once this is over. There is gov assistance you should be able to access on my gov. i hope this is over quick for you and your babies and you get to a safe place soon. Stay safe. The rest of Australia is thinking about everyone in QLD & NSW affected by this terrible event.
Also remember that immediate safety trumps isolation don't stay if it's not safe.
Your post isn't focussed on the deteriorating health of your children to the point that you are scared they need hospitalisation now, so that's the first thing to focus on. You have food, shelter and don't appear to need immediate emergency/medical assistance.
The 2nd thing to focus on is that flooding and rain eerily disapates very quickly once the rain stops. I'm in brissy and businesses are closed. Homes have sewerage issues. Roads are damaged to the point that they aren't passable. That's all within a really small radius of my house. Yet Sunday night my area was almost an ocean and this morning, it was muddy with water lines on buildings that were already soooo far away from where the water had receded to. That means that even if you're cut off once the rain stops, the water will recede and people from less impacted areas will be able to help you.
The 3rd positive is that, in 2011 when Brisbane had devastating floods that had entire suburbs go under water, only a handful of insurers actually covered the damage. It was such profound injustice that a lot of insurance regulations changed and now coverage for flooding is significantly more covered. So chances are, your car will be replaced/paid out.
Focus on the now and only the now. Focus on your actual needs rather that what might be needed.
I’m in brissy and we’ve just had it, there will be disaster payments, it’s looking like it’s specifically for people who lose large value assets like homes and vehicles. So don’t stress over the car, just wait for the financial side of things, right now take care of yourself and your kids.
By the way you do know that you can break isolation being Covid positive to get to safety during the floods? Just want to make sure you know that. Call ses if you’re flooded in or in danger and get you all out of there.
Send thoughts and prayers xxxx
You ok?