Salvos assist flood-ravaged communities in WA
Salvos assist flood-ravaged communities in WA
27 January 2023
Major Pam Marshall, standing left, works with Salvation Army Emergency Services volunteers from Perth, Julie, seated right, and Kris, to support flood-affected communities.
Major Pam Marshall, Karratha Corps Officer, along with Kris and Julie, Salvation Army State Emergency Services volunteers from Perth, have set up relief operations in Broome and Derby to support communities affected by the recent devastating floods.
They are providing Woolworths vouchers for food and essential items and assisting people who have been displaced from their homes and communities with immediate and ongoing support.
The first step of the assistance and recovery efforts involves liaising with those affected in the Kimberley region to assess their needs. The Salvos are working with the Department of Communities, Red Cross and other non-government agencies to ensure everyone displaced is receiving the help they require.
Being faced with a flood is a distressing experience, and according to Pam, those affected are keen to have someone to talk to, helping them process the turn of events – and the Salvos are doing just that.
The Salvos team discovered that many people who visited the Broome area for medical treatment before Christmas were unable to return home. “They arrived by bus and have no way of heading back now,” shares Pam.
Floods isolating remote areas
Remote areas of WA have been cut off by the devastating floods.
As part of her assistance efforts, Pam visited a couple who were looking after their grandchild. “Initially, they thought they would be unaffected,” she explains. “But as they watched the water come up, they saw the first step disappear, then the second step, then they saw water bubbling up through the floorboards of the house.
“The water was chest-height before they were evacuated by boat, and then plane, arriving in Broome with only the clothes they were wearing.”
The collapse of the main bridge at Fitzroy Crossing that connects the north and south of WA has cut off residents and left them with no travel options except flying. As Pam explains, “We are seeing a loss of normality, a loss of independence, the loss of homes and, most of all, a loss of community.”
Due to the pressure of needing to escape floodwaters, there are also those who are escaping domestic violence situations. The Salvos team and other agencies are assisting these people, many with children, who are seeking refuge.
Approximately 500 people in Broome are trying to get back to their community. “People are stranded. Their lives have been shattered. They have lost everything, including the feeling of safety,” says Pam.
Accommodation crisis
The aftermath of the flood has resulted in a severe shortage of accommodation. As Pam explains, “There are a lot of people sleeping in parks as they have been displaced from the floods, but it is hot and humid. Many stranded people are trying to bunk down with families, which means overcrowding in homes.”
Many homes are now also unhabitable due to the floods. “To get accommodation in the town is hard yakka at the moment,” Pam states.
“Flood help is currently being offered by the Salvos but we know that needs are ongoing. It’s imperative that flood support continues to get people back to normality.”
Residents have not only lost their homes and possessions, but their community too. Pam, Kris and Julie are working hard to keep family and friends together. “After all, they won’t be allowed back home for months until clearance is issued,” states Pam. Her message is quite clear – “We’d love to see people back in their own communities when it is safe.”
For more information and assistance on the WA floods, please click here
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