News

With floodwaters inundating homes in southern Queensland, The Salvation Army Strategic Emergency and Disaster Management team was called in overnight by the Queensland Government to be part of a recovery effort.

Salvation Army National Recovery Specialist Sue Hopper says that while Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) catering response vehicles were not yet required, our Strategic Emergency and Disaster Management (SEDM) team would provide financial and practical assistance to people affected by the floods over coming days. This will occur initially at Inglewood at a Government-coordinated Community Recovery Centre to open tomorrow and may expand to other impacted towns.

Persistent record November rainfall over several days caused several waterways in the region to break their banks, Inglewood particularly affected with around 30 homes inundated.

Residents were forced to leave their properties mid-week as water washed through the town. The ripple effect is now being felt in other areas, such as at Yelarbon and Goondiwindi, as floodwaters flow downstream.

Goondiwindi continues to brace for its highest flood peak yet recorded at 10.7m.

SAES Queensland coordinator, Adam Cole, says there were a number of areas being monitored across southern Queensland with Chinchilla on the Western Downs having a "watch and act" message in place for moderate flooding over the next few days.

Sue says the situation continues to be "dynamic and changing" and, with the storms at the weekend and a further rain event in the affected areas forecast for next week, SEDM and SAES will remain ready to respond as needed.

Emergency hardship assistance grants are available to people in Inglewood who are experiencing financial hardship from the flooding.

Applications can be made at www.communityrecovery.qld.gov.au