People are getting their first glimpses of what recovery efforts will entail as floodwaters recede around Logan.
Hundreds of helpers are being primed to form Logan’s equivalent of the mud army, which will soon be ready to serve households in need.
Logan City Council made a formal request with Volunteering Queensland to mobilise volunteers.
Volunteering Queensland is the same organisation tasked with coordinating Brisbane City Council’s renowned Mud Army 2.0, along with helpers for the councils of Ipswich, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, and Fraser Coast.
Councillor Teresa Lane said upwards of 342 residents have registered for Logan’s contingent so far.
“There are people ready to go,” Cr Lane said.
“If we get the details of people who are facing hardship, who don’t have friends and family to help them move stuff from the house, get in touch as soon as possible, and we will pass that onto Volunteering Queensland.”
Volunteering Queensland is waiting for council to complete flood assessments to determine where and what help is needed.
People can fast track that process by reporting if they have been affected by flooding.
“The best thing you can do is ring council and register that your house has been inundated with water,” Cr Lane said.
While some people may welcome the assistance, Cr Lane said she is aware there are many who would prefer to work through it without the community’s support given how sensitive a time it is.
“That’s why Volunteering Queensland is really careful where they send people, but the work cover is the most important part I think,” she said.
People interested in helping should register with the organisation. Work cover subsidised by the Queensland government will cover injuries or sickness sustained while helping.
Approximately 200 homes could be inundated based on 2017 flood data, according to council.
Skip bins for damaged goods can be acquired for free through insurers in some cases.
“If you have flood insurance, you can go and get a mini-skip bin as part of that process and get rid of it,” Cr Lane said.
She urged people without flood insurance to contact council immediately.
“Council will pass those details immediately onto Volunteering Queensland,” she said. “If they need to mobilise volunteers, they will do that and organise with the homeowner or the tenant.”
Housing connection services, such as Housing Queensland and Youth and Family Services, are also available for renters who need help finding a new home, Cr Lane said.
Council is asking organisations and not-for-profits in Logan to help with the recovery by registering with GIVIT.
GIVIT is an aggregator for donations that works by connecting with organisations and charities to determine where donations are most needed, to avoid wastage, and to ensure too much of one item does not overwhelm an area.
People can then fund or donate an item to GIVIT. The organisation will then distribute it to the community via local organisations and charities.
“It’s a smarter way of getting what is needed straight to the person,” Cr Lane said.
Aspiring helpers should contact Volunteering Queensland via the website at volunteeringqld.org.au or on 3002 7600.
