Cyclone Debbie Update

 
Bruce Scott, our Rotary District's Disaster Management Coordinator reports as follows:
 
On Wednesday and Thursday (last) week, I had the opportunity to talk face to face on the ground with our three Rotary Clubs in Bowen, Proserpine and Airlie Beach.  After viewing the damage first hand and hearing the concerns direct from local Rotarians, I was able to make an area assessment from a Rotary perspective.  Of greatest significance, no lives were lost in our region as a direct result of Cyclone Debbie.  It is assessed that about 500 homes in the area covered by our D9550 Rotary Clubs have been condemned and it will be sometime before insurance claim assessments will be known.  It is believed that most displaced families have now been accommodated with some still lacking bare essentials. As at mid week, there were still 1,500 homes without grid power.
 
The future is unclear but we all sense mental health will be a major concern for those who felt the full effects of Cyclone Debbie.
 
 
Read on for more information.
 

Longer Term Assessment

The obvious damage and immediate impact of Cyclone Debbie is clear to see and will therefore be rectified as resources become available.  What is not clear is the hidden effects and longer term impacts?  For those who have lost everything, short term survival has been facilitated but what help is available to them long term – what if the insurance does not cover enough of the loss?  Most insurance policies do not cover the cost of asbestos removal – how will this impact the Proserpine community?  Many who live in the Proserpine area do so for affordability reasons so those who have lost everything were already financially disadvantaged - their pain has now been magnified.
 
Some businesses are only now seeing the follow-on effects on their premises necessitating relocation – in one case the now rapidly growing mound has caused the write-off of all stock.  Micro businesses will be the worst effected particularly in the AB area – will they stay and rebuild or will they close and leave the area.
 
A major concern in this Whitsunday region is the higher than normal suicide rates.  The impacts of Cyclone Debbie will no doubt have added to the stresses of those likely to be susceptible to thoughts of self harm.  This issue is largely hidden until too late.  The community will need to be alert to their community members who are now or will soon be suffering mentally.
 
I expect a significant focus of our Rotary effort in the long term might be facilitating mental health support throughout the impacted communities.  Mental health issues are often hidden until it is too late – with the support of our own Australian Rotary Health initiatives D9550 needs to be prepared to facilitate support to the three clubs with services into their respective communities.
 

Immediate Tasks

  • organise a truck (with the capacity of a 20 foot container) in Townsville to move all the Townsville Rotary stock of refrigerators, the two sofas and the kitchen/dining room tables and chairs as will fit to Proserpine.  Neil Andrews has accepted this responsibility.
  • organise a work party to load the truck probably late Tue 18 Apr or early Wed 19 Apr.  I ask that AG Trevor email Townsville clubs asking for help once the truck is booked and a load time is confirmed (probably only need six able bodied Rotarians).
  • provide a Proserpine delivery address and have a work party to unload the truck when it arrives in Proserpine (Time TBA).  Jeff Boyle - can you please take on this responsibility and email me the delivery address this week-end please.
  • source three 2nd hand domestic washing machines to be a part of the delivery to Proserpine.  Neil Andrews & I will look for opportunities via Saturday's Bulletin - may need one or two Rotary Clubs to cover the cost of the purchase of available 2nd hand washing machines here in Townsville.
We need to successfully complete these tasks and get a delivery to Proserpine mid to late (this) week.  I know the Proserpine community will be grateful.