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Disasters and emergencies

From emergency response to recovery, we stand with communities for the long haul, providing financial, material, emotional and spiritual support so lives can be re-established after disaster. 

In the aftermath of a disaster, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of what needs to be done. You don’t have to take that journey alone. The Salvation Army is available to provide advice and clarity, to make sense of what the next steps are and to help you regain some control over the situation. We are here to support you for as long as it takes to recover. 

Flood recovery for Western Australia

Last updated 17 January 2023

The Salvation Army is currently providing vouchers to assist with the cost of essential items and recovery support at the Broome recovery centre, to help those impacted by the WA floods.

Recovery hubs – managed by the state government and operated by multiple agencies, including The Salvation Army – are a one-stop shop for information, referrals and personal support, and guidance with accessing financial assistance.

We are working alongside local police and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support services, to support those who have been displaced from Fitzroy Crossing, Derby and surrounding areas.

Community liaison officers from the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) can provide information to residents regarding when they can safely return home and route instructions.  

For assistance and enquiries, please visit:
  
Broome Civic Centre  
27 Weld St, Broome WA
10am - 4pm daily (bookings not required)

Derby Civic Centre
32 Loch St, Derby WA

Please bring with you: 

Essential – photo ID with the address of your flood-damaged house (this needs to be your primary place of residence) 
Essential – Medicare or Health Care card that lists your dependents if you are claiming a grant for your household members 
Optional – any other evidence to demonstrate that you have been impacted, e.g., an insurance claim, referral letter, etc.

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance is available for WA residents and businesses impacted by floods. 
 
The Salvation Army is in regular contact with the state government to determine how we can best support communities affected. We will also continue to work with the Department of Communities, Western Australia’s human services department, to offer support for areas impacted, such as Derby, where water supplies have been cut off. 

Other disaster and emergencies

Last updated 17 January 2023

At the floods peak in October 2022, The Salvation Army 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 1,095 bedding sets (Victoria only), issued 2,395 grants and distributed $590,640 in financial assistance to 5,512 people since the start of the floods to help meet essential needs such as food, clothing and medical supplies.

How to access support

The Salvation Army is no longer available at recovery hubs in Victoria. Our personnel are providing outreach services in Echuca and Rochester to support community members who were unable to access recovery centres.

In New South Wales, The Salvation Army is currently providing hardship grants to meet immediate essential needs such as food, clothing and medical supplies to people impacted by the floods. To apply, please speak to The Salvation Army personnel at a recovery hub:

NSW

*IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Salvation Army personnel may not be present at some sites on rare occasions due to illness or unforeseen circumstances. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Please bring with you:

Essential - Photo ID with the address of your flood-damaged house (this needs to be your primary place of residence)
Essential - A Medicare or Health Care Card to show your dependents if you are claiming a grant for your household members
Optional - Any other evidence to demonstrate that you are flood impacted. For example, an insurance claim, referral letter etc.

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

Our Response

Last updated 30 September 2022

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

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 in QLD and NSW (now closed)
7488+ volunteer hours worked at evacuation centres (now closed)
42,647+ meals and refreshments served at evacuation centres (now closed)

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.

You can read more about how The Salvation Army supported communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires in the latest Disaster Appeal Report.