Community RecoveryNews

Transcription

1 Community RecoveryNews Ipswich 17 January 2011 All levels of government, community and volunteer organisations are working together to provide support and assistance to people in Ipswich affected by flooding. This newsletter will guide you through the types of assistance, insurance, health advice and the support available to you. Recovery support and assistance The Queensland Government s Department of Communities is responsible for coordinating community recovery activities in partnership with federal and local governments, state government agencies, Red Cross, Lifeline and Centrelink. For further information on the types of support and assistance available, the following services are available to call: Community Recovery Line on National Relay Service TTY on Interpreter Service on For more information you can also visit Community Recovery Centres Community Recovery Centres have been established at the following locations and will operate from 8.30am to 5.00pm until further notice. Bundamba TAFE Byrne Street, Bundamba Ipswich Showgrounds 81 Warwick Road, Ipswich The Park Centre for Mental Health Corner of Boyce Road and Ellerton Drive, Wacol Community Recovery Centres offer a number of services to flood-affected residents in one location. Services include recovery information, personal support, financial assistance, counselling, and referrals to other agencies to help people resume a normal life as soon as possible. Lifeline is also at the Centres to offer counselling services and additional support, while Centrelink is there to provide financial assistance to floodaffected residents. Identification Agencies need to know who you are and where you live before helping you. When making a claim for assistance please make sure you have: drivers licence or ID card Medicare card showing members of your family, and a document or utilities bill showing your address. If you do not have identification, arrangements will be made to help you obtain identification at the recovery centre. People requiring replacement birth, marriage or change of name certificates lost as a result of flooding can obtain replacement copies for free until the end of March You can apply in person, at a courthouse, or a Queensland Government Agent Program office, or by phoning the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages on or ing BDMmail@justice.qld.gov.au. Make sure that you mention that you have lost documents in the flood.

2 Community Recovery News Financial assistance grants There are three types of financial grants available from the Department of Communities. Applications can be made in person at Community Recovery Centres, via phone or post. 1. Personal Hardship Assistance Personal hardship assistance is available to help people meet the added cost of buying food, clothing, medicines or paying for temporary accommodation as a result of the flooding. People can apply for a Personal Hardship Assistance grant of up to $170 per person up to a maximum of $850 for a family of five or more people. Cheques can be cashed at the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB, Westpac or Australia Post agencies. Please check the opening times of your local branch. For more information call or visit 2. Essential Household Contents Grant An Essential Household Contents Grant is available to eligible families and individuals to help with the replacement or repair of uninsured, essential household contents which have been lost, damaged or destroyed as a result of the disaster. A Queensland Government officer must visit your home to assess damage before an Essential Household Contents Grant can be made. This grant is also subject to an income and assets test, and is available to people whose home contents are uninsured. The grant provides assistance of up to $1,705 for individuals and $5,120 for families. For more information call or visit 3. Structural Assistance Grant A Structural Assistance Grant is available to help repair owner-occupied, uninsured residences damaged by flooding. The residence must be the property owner s sole place of residence and applicants for this grant must satisfy an income and assets test. The grant provides a contribution towards repairing eligible residences to a habitable and secure condition. Assistance of up to $10,500 for individuals and $14,200 for families can be provided. A Queensland Government assessor must visit your property before a Structural Assistance Grant can be given. The agreed grant payment is made to the tradesperson once work is completed. For more information call or visit Eligibility Income test To qualify for the Essential Household Contents Grant and the Structural Assistance Grant, the upper income limits are: $704 gross per week for a single adult, increasing by $51 per dependant $930 gross per week for a couple, increasing by $51 per dependant. Reduced grants may be available if your income does not exceed these amounts by more than $40 per week. Assets test To qualify for the Essential Household Contents Grant and Structural Assistance Grant, you must have assets of less than $6,135 for a household or $25,101 if you are a pensioner. Your primary residence, household contents and one motor vehicle are not included in these assets amounts. Centrelink assistance Centrelink has a range of payments and services that you may be eligible for including: Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is available for people who have been adversely affected by flooding. The payment consists of $1000 for each eligible adult and $400 for each eligible child. You don t have to be a Centrelink customer to claim this payment.

3 Ipswich 17 January 2011 Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy The Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy is available for employees, small business persons and farmers who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the flooding and severe weather. For more information and details on eligibility please call Centrelink on or visit Energy payment assistance The Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme provides assistance to customers who are unable to pay their electricity bill due to a crisis or unforseen emergency. For more information, contact 13 QGOV ( ). Sport and recreation clubs assistance The Queensland Government is offering funding for non-profit sport and recreation clubs to repair facilities affected by the disaster. This Disaster Recovery Program funding includes up to $5,000 to replace damaged equipment and up to $20,000 to repair infrastructure. Applications close at 5pm, 31 January For further information call or visit Cashing cheques Those people who have received their grant in the form of a cheque can cash them at local banks, including the Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, and ANZ. Cheques can also be cashed at Australia Post Agencies. To cash your cheque, you will need to bring your cheque, your identification and the reference sheet attached to the cheque with you. Assistance for small businesses Detailed information about assistance for primary producers and small businesses is available in the newsletter Assistance for Primary Producers and Small Business produced by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. Advice is also available through the QRAA call centre by phoning or visiting or contact the DEEDI Customer Service Centre on , or visit Electricity reconnection ENERGEX is asking residents to be patient if they are experiencing electricity interruptions while repairs are underway. In the event of an interruption, keep a batterypowered radio with fully charged batteries handy and listen to your local radio station for regular power restoration updates. To check on power restoration in your suburb you can phone ENERGEX s loss of supply number on or visit Similarly, Ergon Energy customers can visit or contact Essential safety information Electrical safety If your house or business has been affected by the disaster, electrical equipment, wiring and appliances may have been damaged. Using water-damaged equipment can result in electric shocks and fires. The Electrical Safety Office, part of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, recommends disposing of water-affected household electrical items, such as kettles and toasters, rather than taking the risk of an accident occurring. Larger appliances, such as airconditioning units that have been in contact with water, should be inspected by a licensed electrical contractor before use. People using portable generators after a network power failure should be aware that power from generators can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Use a portable generator to power only essential equipment such as refrigerators. Do not connect the generator to your house electrical installation unless a proper generator change-over switch and appropriate socket have already been installed by a licensed electrical contractor.

4 Community Recovery News If you are outside, stay well clear of any fallen powerlines. If your home has been inundated by floodwaters you must have it inspected by a licensed electrician before electricity can be reconnected. Ask for a certificate of test. When flood waters recede, home owners must engage a licensed electrical contractor to inspect the wiring to ensure it is safe. Once a contractor has provided written advice that it is safe to do so, electricity can be reconnected. Solar panel risks The Queensland Electrical Safety Office has issued a warning to residents about the electrical safety risks posed by solar panels in flooded areas. Anyone working around solar panels should treat the panels and their cables as if they were live. The current emergency in Queensland has seen people being forced on to their roofs to seek temporary safety from localised severe flooding. Many houses and businesses have solar panels installed on their roof and these can present electrical safety risks unless care is taken. If you are on the roof, keep well away from solar panels and their cables. Solar panels (often called photo-voltaic panels) generate and supply electricity to homes and commercial premises. Because they are powered by the sun (or any other source of light), they continue to supply electricity, even when the main power has been switched off. This means that even if the street power has been disconnected from a house or place of business, and the main switch turned off, there may still be live cables within the building which, due to flood damage, may present a risk of exposed live electrical parts. More information on electrical safety after wet weather and general electrical safety is available from the Electrical Safety Office on or at Energex on , or Ergon Energy on Reconnecting gas supply to homes and businesses As soon as waters recede, residents and business owners must have any flood-affected LPG and natural gas appliances and equipment checked by a licensed gas fitter. The owner of the gas appliances or equipment (including regulators and meters) and the gas supplier, will receive a gas system compliance certificate once it has been checked, after which supply will be restored. Owners with gas appliances or equipment, supplied by their own cylinders or exchange cylinders, should also have these checked. Gas suppliers will not connect or reconnect supply to customers where rising flood waters have threatened the safety of network equipment and if they consider the gas system is unsafe for continued use. Please contact your local gas fitter or gas supplier for further assistance. Cleaning up If your house has been damaged, wear gloves and covered shoes when cleaning up, and treat any cuts with antiseptic. Apply a bandaid to the wound and see a doctor if cuts become infected. After cleaning silt and debris from floors and other surfaces, disinfect the surfaces with household bleach or disinfectant. Refrigerators and food storage cupboards should be thoroughly cleaned out and disinfected. Be sure to thoroughly clean, using hot water and detergent, any cooking and eating utensils that may have come into contact with contaminated water. Throw out any water-damaged food. Avoid unnecessary contact with mud and dirt, especially when you are cleaning up. Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling food, and after handling pets that may have swum in contaminated water.

5 Ipswich 17 January 2011 Call Ipswich City Council on or TTY (quote ) if you require assistance removing dead animals. Waste removal Contact your local council about waste removal. In most instances they will instruct you to leave items to be removed at the kerb. Do not remove items that may contain asbestos from your house without the assistance of a person certified to remove asbestos. Drinking water In some disaster events water supplies may be contaminated and bottled water is recommended. Queensland Health advises that if you suspect water may be contaminated you should boil water for several minutes before drinking. Mosquito-borne diseases Mosquito breeding increases after rain or flooding and it is important that residents help prevent outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease. Make sure you wear insect repellent if you are being bitten. When cleaning up your house or yard following a flood, get rid of potential mosquito breeding sites to prevent outbreak of mosquito borne disease. Rain or floodwater may have collected in containers around your yard, so make sure you empty them and store them in a dry place or throw them away. Other safety information For advice on staying safe during the clean up, contact Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, a division of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, on or visit Legal and financial Insurance advice The Insurance Council advises policy holders in Queensland who have been impacted by the disaster to make contact with your insurance company, so that your claim can be assessed as soon as possible. Policy holders are encouraged to: contact your insurer before authorising major repairs take photographs of damaged goods and retain for insurance assessment purposes remove any water and mud damaged possessions that pose an immediate health hazard keep a detailed inventory of any items that have been disposed or removed that you intend to claim against. For further enquiries about insurance, contact the Insurance Council Hotline on Free legal advice LEGAL Aid Queensland, the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH), Queensland Association of Independent Legal Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service and Queensland Law Society have joined forces to provide free legal advice to disadvantaged Queensland residents affected by flooding. People affected by the flooding can contact Legal Aid Queensland or the Financial Ombudsman Service for advice on managing their claim with their insurer. Legal Aid Queensland is working with QPILCH, community legal centres, like the Caxton Legal Centre, and lawyers who do pro bono work to ensure people can access legal help when needed. People can contact Legal Aid Queensland on for the cost of a local call to get free legal information and advice or to be referred to another organisation who could assist with their problem. Visit for more information. Financial Ombudsman Service Contact the Financial Ombudsman Service if you have a dispute to resolve with a financial service provider (including banking, credit, loans, general insurance, life insurance, financial planning, or investments). There are five steps in handling a dispute:

6 Community Recovery News 1. Contact your financial services provider 2. Lodge a dispute with us 3. We review the dispute 4. We communicate with both parties to try to resolve the dispute 5. We use negotiation, conciliation or make a decision in resolving the dispute in a timely manner. For more information, visit or phone Employment support services for jobseekers There are Federal and State Government services to help you look for employment. Federal Government employment services include: Job Services Australia, Centrelink financial assistance and income support, Redundancy entitlements, State Government employment services include: Apprentices, trainees and employer support, Skilling Solutions Queensland, Queensland Workplace Rights Office, Your home If you are renting The Residential Tenancy Authority (RTA) has a fact sheet which provides important details about the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords under the Residential Tenancies Act 1994 if their property is damaged or non-liveable. Please visit and then go to the section Natural disaster victims to view the fact sheet: Important renting information for natural disaster victims. You can also telephone the RTA on (cost of a local call) for information and assistance. Building and repairs The Building Services Authority (BSA) offers residents, builders and trade contractors information and advice on rebuilding and repairing damaged homes. The BSA Disaster Recovery website offers a number of guides including a: Homeowner s guide to rebuilding after a natural disaster Health and safety checklist Contractor s guide for restoring a house after a natural disaster. For more information, visit or phone Beware of shonks and scams After natural disasters salespeople will promote home or property maintenance services. While they may be legitimate businesses, some may be scammers. Ask the trader for proof of identity such as a company identification card or drivers licence. Take down details for your reference and also note their vehicle s registration. If the person is selling home maintenance services, ask them for details of other clients so that you can check to see that they were happy with the service provided. Do not agree to offers or deals straight away. Under the terms of the Fair Trading Act, you are entitled to a cooling off period of 10 days. Read all the terms and conditions of any offer carefully. For more information on possible scams, contact 13 QGOV ( ). To check if a tradesman is licensed to perform the type of work you need, visit For information on how the SES can help you visit Public transport The Premier has announced that public transport in South East Queensland is free for one week from Friday, 14 January until next Friday, 21 January. The free public transport will help keep unnecessary cars off the road, help people do some shopping and get around to help others if needed.

7 Ipswich 17 January 2011 Premier s flood relief appeal The Queensland Government has launched an appeal to help people affected by these floods. Donations can be made by visiting a branch of: Commonwealth Bank NAB Westpac ANZ BOQ Suncorp St George Bank Bank SA (Bank of South Australia) Australian Central Credit Union Savings & Loans Credit Union Bank West Australian Central Credit Union Coles supermarkets Australia Post. For more information visit Funds donated to the appeal will be distributed by the Red Cross. Emotional support Lifeline Community Care Confidential counselling is available for individuals and families in the community on a wide variety of issues. You can call Lifeline s 24/7 Telephone Counselling Service on Australian Red Cross The Australian Red Cross has a number of resources available that you may find useful in the aftermath of a disaster. The booklet Coping with a major personal crisis is for people who have recently been involved in an emergency, disaster or other traumatic situation. For more information visit Accessing the internet Free Internet access can generally be obtained at Council libraries. You do not have to be a member of the library to use the Internet service.

8 Community Recovery News Contacts Department of Communities Disaster Recovery Line Queensland Government... (13 QGOV) Queensland Government Interpreter Service Queensland Government... TTY Australian Red Cross Building Services Authority Centrelink Employment Service and Job Network Centrelink Family Assistance Office Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Electrical Safety Infoline Employment Services Information Insurance Council Hotline Lifeline Telephone Counselling Fairwork Infoline Financial Ombudsman Service Legal Aid Queensland Ipswich City Council TTY via NRS (Quote ) Office of Fair Trading Queensland Government Traffic and Travel Information RACQ Road Conditions Relationships Australia Residential Tenancies Authority Salvo Care Line SES The Insurance Ombudsman Service Worker Assistance Hotline Energex Ergon Energy Information current as of 17 January 2011 Ipswich January 2011