Australians have been urged not to forget the families impacted by the most expensive flood in the nation’s history in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Trusted charity, Rural Aid, prepares to deploy assistance to the communities hardest hit by this catastrophe.
Much of NSW, VIC and SA was subject to record rainfall between September and November, over 130 local government areas declared disaster zones.
More than $5.5 billion in damages have been recorded so far – more than any other flood in Australia’s history – as the dire consequences for regional communities become a harsh reality.
The true cost is estimated to be much higher, given farmers may not have been insured for many of the losses and there is limited information on the ongoing loss of income.
Rural Aid has relaunched its Buy-a-Bale fundraiser in response to the disaster, and will team up with the Rapid Relief Team to support a Farmer’s Community Connect event in Rochester.
Rural Aid chief executive John Walters said the event is a chance for farmers to come together for support.
“These floods have had unprecedented impact on rural Australians – families are losing their homes and livelihoods and entire towns are being wiped out,” Mr Walters said.
“It is difficult to measure the true toll the floods are taking, and will continue to take, on impacted farmers and communities.
“Our immediate concern is the mental health and wellbeing of families… communities face a long and challenging road to recovery.”
Rural Aid’s registered mental health counsellors will be at the event, where farmers can register for free A-grade, feed-tested hay, with a free barbecue lunch and connect with local service providers.
Almost 500,000 hectares of farmland have been flooded – more than half the size of Melbourne, wiping millions of dollars from farm incomes and causing stress on rural families.
There is a possibility the flood event will be protracted and episodic, as the Bureau of Meteorology predicts above average rainfall from December to January in many of the impacted areas.
“This particular event poses a unique challenge in that unlike the drought, where some farmers were better prepared or could take steps to manage the impact, this has been sudden and widespread,” Mr Walters said.
