Red Cross, Australia ~ 2011 Australia Floods

FROM RELIEF WEB:

Australia: Qld Floods - Red Cross Evacuation, Recovery and Door-to-Door Support Across Brisbane and 17 Towns
Source: Australian Red Cross
Date: 14 Jan 2011

Red Cross is managing evacuation centres, assisting in recovery centres and beginning door-to-door support in Brisbane and 17 towns across central and south east Queensland as the floods crisis enters its third week.

Some 2,800 people stayed overnight at evacuation centres in Brisbane (1,000 at the RNA Showgrounds and 335 at the QE2 Sports Centre) and Ipswich (1,037 at eight evacuation centres). There were about 400 people at evacuation centres in:

- Toowoomba
- Gatton
- Moreton Bay
- Emerald
- Miles
- Dalby
- Theodore
- Rockhampton and
- Warwick

We are assisting with recovery services in:

- Theodore
- Emerald
- Rockhampton
- Bundaberg
- Chinchilla and
- St George.

We have begun door-to-door personal support in:

- Bundaberg
- Mundubbera
- Tara
- Toowoomba
- Dalby
- Gayndeh
- Monto
- Chinchilla
- Rockhampton
- Emerald

We are working closely with government and a number of partner agencies and organisations, including:

- Lifeline
- Salvation Army
- local councils
- Queensland Police
- Queensland Health
- Centrelink
- Queensland Rail
- State Emergency Services
- Department of Communities
- Victoria Police and
- Victorian Public Service.

The Red Cross emergency operation is headquartered at its office in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, supported by its network across Australia.

Red Cross has established a 24-hour national call centre, the National Registration and Inquiry System (NRIS), at its Melbourne office, with back-up call centres in Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT. The Melbourne centre is being staffed by shifts of more than 60 volunteers. Victoria Police and the Victorian Public Service are providing support staff. People affected by the floods are being urged to register their details, including their whereabouts, online at www.redcross.org.au or by phoning 1800 727 077. To check if a loved one is safe, click on "Search" at www.redcross.org.au or call 1800 727 077 (if calling from within Australia) or +61 3 9328 3991 (if calling from outside Australia).

"Red Cross is a major national organisation with more than 2,000 staff and 55,000 members and volunteers," said Red Cross Queensland Executive Director Greg Goebel.

"It's all hands on deck. The scale, intensity and duration of this emergency is fully testing us but our volunteers and staff across Australia are rising to the challenge.

"A long recovery operation lies ahead of us. Queenslanders need our support like never before. We will not let them down."

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FROM RELIEF WEB:

Australia: Queensland floods emergency as of 12 January 2011 7.00AM AEST
Source: Australian Red Cross
January 12, 2011

What has happened?

The situation with the Queensland floods has worsened significantly. Red Cross and other agencies are in full response mode. Evacuation centres are being managed and supported by Red Cross across affected areas.

* Flood levels in the Brisbane River are anticipated to continue to rise into Thursday and are expected to be higher than the 1974 peak. River levels at Ipswich will peak some time during Wednesday at levels predicted to be higher than the 1974 floods.
* An evacuation centre is set up at the RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills, which can accommodate 3,000 people.
* Lockyer Valley - Red Cross is unable to access the area at this stage but we have personnel on standby.
* The National Registration and Inquiry System (NRIS) is open. Register your details or find out about family and loved ones online, or call 1800 727 077 within Australia. If you are calling from outside Australia, please call +61 3 9328 3991.
* More than $32m has been donated to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal as of 11 January 2011.
* The Queensland Premier has announced the appointment of a committee to determine allocation and oversee the distribution of the funds raised. The committee comprises State, Federal and local government representatives as well as two Red Cross Board members.

What is Red Cross doing?

Red Cross:

* has had staff and trained volunteers on the ground since the first evacuation centre opened on 27 December 2010.
* as a result of the latest significant developments, New Zealand Red Cross is sending emergency personnel to support the Australian Red Cross response in Queensland.
* is assisting Department of Communities with targeted outreach.
* is running evacuation centres across southern and central Queensland including Emerald, Dalby, Theodore/Moura, Rockhampton and St George.
* is conducting outreach services in many areas including Bundaberg, Condamine, Chinchilla, Dalby, Gayndah, Gin Gin, Monto and Mundubbera.
* is providing an information centre presence in Dalby and St George.
* has two representatives on the Premier-appointed committee which will determine criteria for the allocation and distribution of appeal funds to people who are most in need.
* is providing existing Telecross clients in flood-affected areas including Brisbane, Toowoomba, Dalby, Chinchilla, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Rockhampton, Emerald, Maryborough, Stanthorpe and Warwick with an extra daily call to provide reassurance and check on their wellbeing. To register for this extra service, please call 1300 885 698 from within Queensland.
* is distributing practical resources, including Cleaning Up after Flooding, a booklet that contains useful tips to help households start the clean up, both emotionally and practically, as part of the recovery process already underway in Bundaberg, Dalby, Warwick, Chinchilla and Emerald.
* is on standby to provide additional support where necessary.

How will Red Cross help communities recover?

Red Cross is working in coordination with emergency response agencies to assist people through the recovery process at recovery centres and is coordinating with the Department of Communities to provide community outreach.

Are any other areas likely to be affected?

Other communities across the southern region of Queensland are on alert. Red Cross is planning to provide response and recovery support to these areas as required.

Is there an appeal?

On 29 December 2010, the Queensland Premier opened the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal to support people affected by these floods.

Donations to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal can be made by visiting the Queensland Government website. Red Cross has not launched an appeal for flood-affected Queenslanders because the Premier of Queensland has already launched the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal for the same purpose.

How do I donate to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal?

* You can visit the Queensland Government website to make a secure online donation
* We have been advised that phone lines are currently inundated. At this time, please make your donation online or:
* Donate in person at Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, ANZ, BOQ, Suncorp, St.George Bank, Bank SA (Bank of South Australia), Australian Central Credit Union, Savings & Loans Credit Union, Bank West, Australian Central Credit Union, Coles supermarkets.
* Send a cheque to: The Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal, c/o Department of the Premier and Cabinet, PO Box 15185, City East QLD 4002 (Please do not send cash.)
* Donate through internet banking. Account name: Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal, BSB: 064 013, Account number: 1000 6800

Once your transaction is complete, you should record the receipt number for your transaction. If you do not receive a receipt number, contact your financial institution. If you would like a receipt for tax purposes, please forward a request, with proof of donation to: Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal, c/o Department of the Premier and Cabinet, PO Box 15185, City East QLD 4002.

How do I apply for funds from the Premier's Appeal?

The Premier of Queensland has announced a committee, including two Red Cross representatives, to determine criteria for the allocation and distribution of appeal funds. The committee is expected to meet within the week, and Red Cross will provide an update as soon as details are available.

Can I volunteer?

Australian Red Cross is not calling for new volunteers at this time. Trained and experienced volunteers have been mobilised and are currently assisting in the Red Cross response. If the situation changes and we identify additional volunteering needs we will make a public call.

The best way the public can help at the moment is by donating money or raising funds for the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

Australian Red Cross recruits and trains volunteers for emergency situations just like this one. If you want to get involved in future Red Cross emergency responses, please visit the Become a volunteer page and complete the online registration form. Detailed on the page are current volunteer opportunities in your state, along with an explanation about the recruitment process and the Red Cross involvement policy. Thank you for your interest in Australian Red Cross.

Can I donate goods?

No, Australian Red Cross is not accepting donations of clothing, food or other goods at this time. Our experience with emergency recovery has shown that affected communities recover sooner when they can make their own choices. This includes choosing and purchasing goods to help put their lives back together again rather than being given goods. Another benefit of this is that money is being put back into the community to stimulate local businesses. This is an important part of the local economic recovery.

If we identify a specific need for donated items we will make a public call. Some members of the public are asking if there is anything they can do with their goods to help.

Some people are holding garage sales and donating the money to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

How can I find out about family and friends?

People affected by the floods are encouraged to register their name and whereabouts using the National Registration and Inquiry System. Concerned friends and relatives can then search for details. You can also register your details or find out about family and loved ones by calling call 1800 727 077 within Australia. If you are calling from outside Australia, please call +61 393 283 991.

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FROM RELIEF WEB:

Red Cross flies in volunteers from across Australia and New Zealand
Source: Australian Red Cross
Date: 11 Jan 2011

Red Cross is flying in trained staff and volunteers from across Australia and New Zealand in response to the latest floods emergency in the Lockyer Valley area in southeast Queensland and Brisbane.

Red Cross emergency response teams are being sent to emergency zones across the region after freak flash flooding hit the Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba regions overnight.

We are also preparing for expected evacuations in Brisbane.

Red Cross is working closely with a number of partner agencies and organisations to recruit additional emergency workers and support staff.

We are also managing existing evacuation centres in Rockhampton, Emerald, Dalby, Moura, Theodore and St George. More than 4,000 people have stayed at these evacuation centres since December 27.

"Queenslanders need our support like never before," Red Cross Queensland Executive Director Greg Goebel said.

"Red Cross is flying in from across Australia and New Zealand additional trained staff and volunteers. Our volunteers and staff are trained and experienced in disaster and emergency response but we are being fully tested. The scale, intensity and duration of this disaster is unprecedented.

"We are also working closely with a number of partner organisations to recruit additional emergency workers and support staff."

People affected by the floods are being urged to register their details, including their whereabouts, online at the Red Cross and Queensland Police National Registration Inquiry System (NRIS) at www.redcross.org.au

"Red Cross is making sure anyone forced to leave their home will have a safe, dry place to stay. Lifeline counsellors are on hand at our evacuation centres." Mr Goebel said.