If you're in SE Qld and feeling helpless here are some things that you might be able to do to help your local community get back on track in the days, weeks and months following this disaster.
(Please ensure that you and your home are Ok and its safe for you to go first though):
1. Volunteer to help out at the evacuation centres, they'll need people to help with things like preparing food and ensuring everyone is ok physically and emotionally
2. If you're in a street or suburb which has been effected ensure your neighbours are OK - especially elderly people
3. Prepare meals for friends and neighbours who's homes, businesses or properties have been effected - this will be an extremely stressful time for many people
4. Offer to do washing for friends and neighbours without power
5. Give people a ring - it can do so much to boost people's spirits to know that you are thinking of them
6. Offer to mind children of friends and neighbours who have been affected
7. Contact local charity organizations such as red cross, vinnies lifeline, rotary and see if they need help
8. Get in touch with local schools, childcare centres, kindys etc that you are involved with and offer to help
9. In the weeks ahead spend some extra time socialising with friends or family who have been involved, people are often very resilient in the first few days and may have delayed shock until several weeks later
10. Don't be afraid to ask for help yourself - even if your own property was undamaged seeing your community devastated can be an emotional experience and you need to ensure you are OK too
It can take 12 months - 2 years to fully recover emotionally from a large scale event such as this, our thoughts are with all of you, stay strong.
At times like this we all need to do what we can to help, please add your tips and ideas in the comments below.
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If you would like to volunteer, please dont just turn up at an evac centre and expect to help!
ReplyDeleteThe aim is to ensure people are in place who are prepared and trained.
There are many roles that require volunteers across Queensland.
To Volunteer please call this central number: 1800 994 100
Thank you.
Martin J Cowling
People First-Total Solutions
Thanks so much for the number Martin. I know so many people will want to do what they can to help out.
ReplyDeleteThese tips are useful for any time of crisis or upheaval - often when a disaster happens there is nothing you can say but the little things that you can do are helpful - whether on the QLD flood scale or at the local, personal level. Thanks for the guidance that it is often the simple things that everyone can do that makes a difference.
ReplyDeletecheers, Bern
Thanks for your comment Bern, you're right its sometimes the simplest things which can make a difference to someone, thanks for dropping in,
ReplyDeletePeace