Hope, help and heroes amid the flood devastation
Hope, help and heroes amid the flood devastation
21 November 2022
Salvo volunteer ‘Smithy’ diligently prepares meals from the catering truck at Eugowra. Photo: Cazeil Creative
In response to the devastating floods in Central West NSW over the past two weeks, The Salvation Army has had emergency services teams operating in Orange, Forbes and Eugowra to assist impacted people. Salvo volunteers Carolyn Hide and her husband Neil, of Parramatta Corps, drove to the flood zone last week to offer assistance. Carolyn shares her experience here with Others.
What devastation! Driving into Eugowra was like entering a disaster movie set. We had been warned about what to expect, but seeing the aftermath of the floods firsthand was an overwhelming experience.
The force of the water was so immense that it lifted houses completely off their piers and foundations and relocated them in backyards, across roadways ... anywhere but where they were originally situated. Everyone was out with tractors, forklifts, brooms and any other tools that could help clear the town of the muck and mud while also finding precious possessions in the wake of this inland tsunami.
The Salvation Army Emergency Services set-up at Eugowra last week. Photo: Cazeil Creative
Our small task was to deliver some supplies from Orange to the SAES (Salvation Army Emergency Services) team, who came from Bowral. They had set up the SAES truck in the showground to feed those impacted by this disaster.
While my husband, Neil, was helping deliver the 500 meat patties and 30kgs of mince, I took a moment to stand back and take in the whole operation, watching all the helpers who had come to assist the townsfolk of Eugowra in any way they could.
Being in Salvation Army uniform was a sign to people to just come and start sharing without having to ask what organisation I was with. One lady shared that she was from Forbes, but her house was safe from the floods there. She was fortunately on the side of the town that allowed her to drive to Eugowra. She has a friend who had been rescued by helicopter and was there to support her and help where she could. They had been able to return to her house, but there was not much to salvage. For this friend, her main concern was to find her family photos. Although they found some, they were completely covered in mud and almost unrecognisable. How very sad to lose such tangible memories.
Floodwater everywhere ... river banks are no longer visible as floodwater spreads across the land. Photo: Cazeil Creative
As I approached the SAES truck, I saw the team in full swing, preparing for the next meal and assisting those who just needed a cuppa or a listening ear. I introduced myself to the SAES lady, who was busy chopping lettuce for lunch. Her name was ‘Smithy’ (pictured in main photo above) and, even though I was interrupting her busyness, she shared this story with me: “Yesterday was full on and, at one stage in the afternoon, we literally ran out of food. I asked the ‘Man upstairs’ to send some loaves and fishes, and 30 seconds later, there was a knock on the truck door. A lady stood there with some bags and asked if we could use 20 kilos of sausages!”
We should not be surprised when God answers prayers, but sometimes we don’t expect the answer to come immediately. God is good!
Orange the centre of flood relief
Orange Corps Officer Major Colin Young.
Corps Officer Major Colin Young is overseeing operations in Orange as Salvation Army Emergency Services crews work hard in evacuation centres and continue to cater from mobile units.
Late last week, Colin and his crew were feeding up to 800 lunch meals at Eugowra. He said the first SAES crews on the scene were from Sydney and Bowral.
“Forty people were also evacuated to Orange, and we’ve also been looking after them,” he said. “They were hoping to go back to their homes over the weekend. But 21 homes in Eugowra are now uninhabitable, and another 200 are flood-damaged ... and that’s in a town of around 800 people.”
Colin said evacuation centres last week had been set up in Forbes and Eugowra, and accommodation options had been organised in Orange for displaced people.
In Forbes, where Major Sandra Walmsley is the Corps Officer, the situation is still uncertain for many residents, and the Salvos are actively responding. Most of the town was evacuated last week for the third time in as many weeks due to the threat of inundation or loss of access to essential services.
“The Salvation Army truck and SAES team are in Forbes,” a Salvo volunteer said. “The town still anxious, not knowing how much more water is coming. The dam is overflowing, or water is being released, so it’s unknown how this will affect the river height. But our teams are on standby and assisting emergency crews and residents.”
Salvo volunteers in Orange providing meals from an SAES mobile unit.
Colin said while food and shelter were vital emergency responses, the request for cleaning products was high on everyone’s agenda. “Everyone is so keen to start cleaning up, mopping up, that were desperately trying to get these cleaning products out to everyone who asks,” he said.
“I know we always say it, but the Salvos will be here for the long haul in this flood situation, long after the water has gone down. We’ll keep working with the communities to get them back on their feet.
“But we couldn’t do it without community support too. For example, the three Rotary clubs in Orange have been magnificent. Absolutely amazing with their support and assistance to us and the community.”
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