In the wake of flooding events across Australia’s east coast that proved far more catastrophic than predicted, preparations are already underway in Brisbane’s Greek community for an organised outreach to those affected.
“We have set up a volunteers’ registry to help out with food, cleaning, supplies, whatever is required, and also focusing of course on the needs of our elderly,” Father Dimitri Tsakas from the Parish – Community of Brisbane’s St George Greek Orthodox Church tells Neos Kosmos.
The call-out for volunteers was posted on social media just yesterday, Monday 28 February, but dozens have already put up their hands.
The priest estimates that by the end of the week a response team of at least 100-150 people will be established.
“We’ve had a few people already reaching out for help but we expect demand will grow, as it takes a couple of days after the rainfall stops for the damage caused to be appreciated in its full extent.”
The timeline of east coast’s devastating floods
A ‘rain bomb’ has hit the east coast in the past few days with the torrential rain pattern now moving to New South Wales and its epicentre shifting to regional towns Lismore – where nine people are unaccounted for – and Ballina, where people are bracing for a one-in-500-year flood.
READ MORE: Nine dead and over 15,000 houses flooded in Queensland and NSW
Queensland woke to mostly sunny weather on Tuesday, though a few showers and thunderstorms were potentially expected in the north and in the southeast.
But flooding was continuing at major levels across Queensland’s worst hit areas by the deluge since last week.
Nine people were confirmed dead while flood rescues continue for some missing and more than 15,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged.
“Nobody has ever seen this amount of rain in such a short period of time over our south-east catchment,” Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said on Monday.
The day before, the capital had several inner-city areas submerged in water with Brisbane mayor Adrian Schrinner, speaking of a “rain bomb” hovering over the city.
In the past six days, we’ve had a year’s worth of rainfall, Fr Tsakas said, to concerns that Queensland’s southeast may yet endure more wild weather.
“We pray there is no repeat of the 2011 floods.”
According to authorities, he says, and measurable indications so far, indicate smaller scale flooding compared to the situation 11 years ago.
“The Brisbane river is our ‘barometer’. Back in 2015 the high tide had reached almost 5 metre. This morning (Tuesday 1 March) it was standing at around 3.7 and a metre in this case can really make a difference, ” he explains.
‘Ready to respond’
The last time the capital inundated by what was described as a once-in-a-century event in 2011, there were many Greek residents in Brisbane’s West End area among the thousands that had to evacuate homes.
The St George parish had then mobilised hundreds of volunteers who turned out to help those affected.
“West End has a strong Greek population but the extent of disaster back then was huge. We sent two teams of youth in two separate districts and of course helping not just Greek Australians but anyone in need from the broader community.”
Fr Tsakas recalls the response was unprecedented, with people donating from non-perishable foods to cleaning supplies, baby products and more.
“I remember children were about to start school at that time and we had to provide everything from scratch, notebooks, stationery, everything was lost.
When water enters your house, nothing is left intact, Fr Tsakas stated, confident the community is on top of the response once again.
“We’ve lived this before, we are ready to respond.”
St George’s list of volunteers in response to the current flood crisis is still open.
Greek businesses have been responding to the call-out, with donations and support still welcome. Those wishing to help can follow these instructions :
Volunteers can email their details (name, contact, number, suburb, and capacity in which they can help) to frdimitri@gocstgeorge.com.au or text them to the St George Community Development Officer Eleni Athinodorou on +61424163411.
The same contact details apply for businesses willing to help.