Over the last week, we have watched as our neighbours around NSW and Queensland have been struck by devastating floods, destroying homes, lives and families. Our thoughts go out to all of you who have been affected, and we send our thanks to those amazing Aussie heroes who jumped in the nearest boat to go and lend a hand.
We know we have a lot of members who are out and about, on our wet roads. Please minimise travel in dangerous conditions and don’t drive through flood waters. If you find yourself in a life threatening situation, call 000. If you need help during floods and storms, you can contact the NSW SES on 132 500. They also have very helpful and timely flood and weather warnings on their SES website.
NSW Government has also provided the following advice:
If there is an evacuation warning in place for your area, be prepared to leave.
If a flood warning has been issued for your area:
- Prepare an emergency kit with important documents, medications and items you might need if you lose power or need to leave in a hurry
- Have an emergency plan in place
- Find the safest route to travel if you need to evacuate and check for any road closures
- Find out where any evacuation centres are set up in your area
- Listen to your local radio station for information, updates and advice
- Contact neighbours, friends and family when flooding is imminent and help move vulnerable people (such as children, the elderly or mobility-impaired) and animals to higher ground
- Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater.
After flooding, please take necessary health and safety precautions when returning to your property.
Disaster assistance
For information on all available disaster assistance, please call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit nsw.gov.au.
Service NSW customer care specialists can help connect flood-affected customers with services and support information including:
- access to emergency accommodation
- relevant charitable services
- mental health and wellbeing services
- financial assistance
- insurance and legal advice
- replacing lost identification
Disaster recovery funding and business support
The NSW Government and Australian Government are working together to provide flood assistance and support.
Over 70 local government areas (LGAs) have been declared disaster areas since November 2021 and are eligible for support.
A full list of disaster declared LGAs can be found at nsw.gov.au.
The assistance available includes:
- concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations
- freight subsidies for primary producers.
Businesses impacted by storms and floods from January to March 2022 can request to be notified when financial support is available from the NSW Government by completing an online form.
For more information and to stay up to date on all available business support, please visit the storms and floods business information hub on the Service NSW website.
From our team to yours, stay safe, look after yourselves, your family and neighbours.