Centre flooded with 97 evacuees

A COFFS Harbour resident who collected the keys to her refurbished Gundagai St unit on Thursday, following the March 31 storm, was flooded out again and in emergency accommodation Friday.

The woman was one of 97 people in the Disaster Recovery Evacuation Centre who gathered at the Coffs Ex-Services Club.

“People were either brought in by the firies or SES as evacuees, some were in transit on the highway and stuck without anywhere to go and others were just displaced due to floodwaters in their homes,” said Ross Willis from the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency – the group charged with finding emergency accommodation.

ADRA joined the Red Cross, Salvation Army, St Vincent DePaul and Anglicare in the emergency response team co-ordinated by the Department of Community Services.

“It was a bit awkward finding motel accommodation as most venues locally don’t have 24-hour reception and we were only called in at 10pm," said Mr Willis.

“But those hotel managers we could find, or wake up, were terrific.”

Mr Willis said everyone who required assistance did receive it and some will continue to have emergency relief care for three days while they consider their options.

“It’s such a blessing to work in something like this, people are dismayed of course but they are so grateful for the help," said Mr Willis.

“And I have to say DoCS is absolutely brilliant to work with.”

Do you have photos of the flooding?  Email them to editorial@finda.com.au.

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