Salvation Army Responds to Flood Crisis in Australia

by The Salvation Army in Canada
Categories: Newswire
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Floods in northeastern Australia are covering an area larger than the state of Texas, stranding more than 200,000 people.

Salvation Army emergency services personnel from the Australia Eastern Territory, who are also in some circumstances themselves victims of the floods, are working around the clock to help tens of thousands of people. Expectations are that the worst is yet to come for many areas.

Dozens of cities and towns have been affected by the floods. A number of rivers have burst their banks, inundating town centres and leaving many smaller communities completely cut off.

More than 200,000 properties across Queensland are still without power, with thousands of people being forced to evacuate their homes.

Other areas hard hit include Emerald – where up to 80 per cent of the city is inundated – and the communities of Gin Gin, Dalby, Theodore and Chinchilla.

In Rockhampton, The Salvation Army has fed more than 1,200 people at three evacuation centres, while also providing meals for dozens of volunteer and support staff.

At Emerald and south at Bundaberg, more than 1,400 people are being provided with meals by Salvation Army emergency services personnel.

The Salvation Army is also feeding more than 350 travellers at Gin Gin who are stranded after all major roads in the area were cut off by floodwaters. Rail services are also affected.

The emergency relief effort is being assisted by The Salvation Army Flying Padre helicopter service through the transportation of supplies to stricken communities over the vast area impacted by the flooding. The newly commissioned helicopter is also being used to rescue people trapped by the floods in dangerous.

At Warwick, in south-east Queensland, The Salvation Army is involved in feeding more than 800 motorists who have become stranded in the city with all major roads in the area cut by floodwaters.

With river levels in many areas not forecast to peak until early next week, The Salvation Army is bracing for the relief effort to continue.