The solution: When the cameras stop, Jenny keeps going. We’ve stopped being surprised when we see a disaster headline in the news. But that doesn’t mean we’re prepared. With bushfires, floods, cyclones and other emergencies happening more frequently, hitting the same communities repeatedly, volunteers like Jenny play a more vital role than ever. This is her story.
Credit: Conor Ashleigh.
Jenny, Lismore, New South Wales When the floods came in 2022, we very quickly realised we weren’t as prepared as we needed to be. That was a massive event, much bigger in its scale and impact than the recent Tropical Cyclone Alfred. In disasters like floods, preparedness is absolutely critical. Not just in terms of the physical wellbeing of yourself, your home and your belongings. You also have to be mentally prepared for the psychological challenges that situations like this bring. Back in 2022, our community believed they were prepared. They’d packed up by Friday and Saturday, and there was almost a kind of “bring it on” mentality. Everyone felt ready for what was to come. But there’s a big difference between being ready for the type of 10-11 metre floods we’d experienced in the past and a 14-and-a-half metre flood. No one was expecting that. When people arrived at the recovery centre, many of them were very distressed and tense – they didn’t know how crowded it would be or if their needs would be met. As volunteers, it’s our job to reassure them, and let them know we’re here to help them, in every way we can. The calming presence of Australian Red Cross at that entry point can make all the difference for so many people.
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