Our Emergency Services team helping in an emergency Our Emergency Services team helping in an emergency

Response, recovery and resilience

See how you can make an impact

Your impact

Our three-phased approach to disasters supports people from the moment a disaster hits to recovery efforts and rebuilding resilience. Backed by The Salvation Army’s wrap around services, we are there for the long haul, helping people get the assistance they need to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

  • Resilience — our aim is to integrate disaster risk recovery and resilience into our model of care. Our focus on resilience strives to collaborate with families and communities, to identify opportunities and risks, strengthen coping strategies and leverage their existing strengths to restore livelihoods amidst compounding crises.
  • Response — deployed with first responders in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, we provide catering and establish safe and friendly rest areas. When the incident managers (usually government) establish evacuation or relief centres, we also provide refreshments, meals, material aid and a friend to talk to.
  • Recovery — a coordinated process that can involve a wide range of Salvos services. At the invitation of incident management, our Recovery team provides essential assistance, including financial hardship aid, material support, chaplaincy services and helps navigate referral pathways. Throughout what can be a protracted recovery journey which can span months to years, The Salvos can provide financial counselling and case management. The Salvos have been and continue to be deeply committed to being there for the long haul, to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

As a national organisation that is locally embedded, we not only understand our community, we are a part of it, which means we are often there before, during and after a disaster strikes. We can do this because we work in partnership with Salvos from a wide range of social services across the country, to meet people at their point of need.

Recent disaster reports

Access the following reports on The Salvation Army website:

Impact reports

The long-term impact of the generosity shown by our donors — including every person who gives to a Salvos Disaster Appeal — has the power to change lives and transform communities. Our impact reports, amongst other things, include stories of transformation that have happened thanks to our supporters, and show the difference your donation makes.

Past disasters

  • 2024 Western Australia bushfire recovery

    Last updated 22 February 2024

    Emergency Services Response and Recovery teams have partnered with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Local Government Authorities since early October 2023. Over the last four months, we have responded to 48 requests for support at fire grounds, providing over 7000 meals to first responders and we remain on standby due to continuing extreme weather.

  • 2024 Queensland floods

    Last updated 22 February 2024

    When Cyclone Jasper and severe storms impacted parts of Far North and South East Queensland, they caused widespread devastation, loss and uncertainty. Cooktown was one of the locations cut off by destruction and floods. Cooktown was one of the locations cut off by destruction and floods.

    Despite this, the Emergency Services team together with the help of the military deployed to the town and over the next four weeks, provided over 6000 meals, snacks and refreshments for evacuees and first responders in evacuation centres. By the time the evacuation centres and storm damage were under control, over 460 Emergency Services employees and volunteers had provided over 10,000 meals to impacted people and first responders.

    The Emergency Services Response and Recovery team (including surge personnel) were privileged to support thousands of people and grateful for the generosity of the Queensland Government, our supporters and partners which enabled us to provide over $2 million in direct community assistance to over 18,000 people.

    • Assistance provided has now reached over $2,078,192
    • Households assisted: 7319
    • Individuals assisted: 18,658 

  • 2024 Victoria fires and storms

    Last updated 22 February 2024

    Over the past two months, the Emergency Services teams have supported first responders and community members impacted by floods in Bendigo, Echuca, Seymour, Murchison and Rochester, as well as bushfires in the Grampians and storms in Gippsland. Over 80 Emergency Services members have given over 625 volunteer hours and provided 2500 meals and refreshments.

    Our Recovery team, in partnership with Local Government Authorities, continue to support those affected with hardship grants.

  • 2023 New South Wales fires

    Last updated 11 October 2023

    The Salvation Army provided recovery financial assistance for fire-impacted communities at the Bega-Bermagui Recovery Centre on 11, 12 and 13 October 2023.

  • 2023 Western Australia flood recovery

    Last updated March 2023

    The Salvation Army provided vouchers to assist with the cost of essential items and recovery support from the Broome recovery centre, to help those who were displaced from Fitzroy Crossing, Derby and surrounding areas. The recovery centre is now closed. The following support is available:

    Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

    If you live in the Shire of Derby West Kimberley, the Federal Government is providing a one-off, non-means tested payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for children affected by the floods.

    Closing date was: 12 July 2023. For further information call 180 22 66

    Department of Communities Financial Assistance

    Assistance is available to people experiencing hardship and distress as a result of the flooding. If you need emergency financial assistance to repair or replace essential household items, or carry out essential repairs to your house, the Department of Communities may be able to help you.

    For further information call 1800 032 965

    Accommodation and travel

    If you require accommodation or travel support, contact the Disaster Response Hotline on 1800 032 965. Alternative options for travel support include emailing your personal details, pick up and drop off location and emergency contact to Kimberley.Welfare@communities.wa.gov.au

  • 2022 New South Wales and Victoria flood recovery

    Last updated 17 January 2023 

    At the floods peak in October 2022, Emergency Services supported evacuation centres in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, providing meals, emotional support and material aid (Victoria only) to people impacted by floods. 

    The Salvation Army provided 18,773 meals to evacuees and first responders in the immediate emergency phase. In the early recovery phase, The Salvation Army has distributed 1095 bedding sets (Victoria only), issued 2395 grants and distributed $590,640 in financial assistance to 5512 people since the start of the floods to help meet essential needs such as food, clothing and medical supplies.

  • 2022 Queensland and New South Wales floods

    Last updated 30 September 2022

    Thanks to our generous donors, volunteers and supporters, Emergency Services has provided the following support in New South Wales and Queensland:

    • Distributed $13.44 million in financial assistance and in-kind support such as food parcels, clothing and household items
    • Issued 39,676 recovery grants
    • Assisted 42,218 people
    • 250+ volunteers deployed in a total of 30 recovery hubs (now closed)
    • 7488+ volunteer hours worked at evacuation centres (now closed)
    • 42,647+ meals and refreshments served at evacuation centres (now closed)

    Background

    The Emergency Services team has supported response and recovery efforts in Queensland and New South Wales due to the unprecedented flood emergency. Emergency Services and local corps (The Salvation Army churches) have provided over 40,000 meals and refreshments in more than 20 evacuation centres in the first two weeks of the floods.  The team was in full operation in 30 recovery hubs in Queensland and New South Wales during the peak of the early recovery phase.

    The Salvation Army is providing ongoing support to people and communities impacted by the floods through outreach teams in New South Wales and Queensland. In New South Wales, we have outreach teams that cover the Northern Rivers area (Tweed to Grafton) and the Western Sydney Hawkesbury area. In Queensland, we have an outreach team in Brisbane who is supporting community members in the areas of Gympie, Ipswich and the outer suburbs of South Brisbane.

  • 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires recovery

    The Salvation Army has provided ongoing care and support to communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20. All grants have now closed and our bushfire chaplains are still offering support to people who were impacted.

    • Read how The Salvation Army supported communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires in the Disaster Appeal Report (2021).