Published On
21/02/2020Recovery efforts
Recovery efforts have been underway since last week and teams from SES, NSW Fire & Rescue, RFS and Council have been assisting with clean-up, street-by-street in flood affected and storm damaged areas across the Coast with Recovery Information Points now in place to assist residents with immediate needs as they begin to recover.
Building Impact Assessment Teams remain in the field assessing impact.
Council teams have also been on-the-ground, focused on making areas safe for the community and clearing debris from roads, footpaths and public spaces across our local government area, our lakes and coastal foreshores, including disinfecting all public toilets, sport ground amenities and public buildings, playgrounds and barbeque areas that were in flood affected areas.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue the clean-up.
The Central Coast Recovery Action Committee formally met on 19 February. The group includes a range of agencies discussing issues and solutions to get local people, industry and the environment back on their feet following natural disasters and severe weather events. The next meeting is on 26 February.
Advice from NSW Heath
NSW Health provides basic hygiene advice during the flood and clean-up period. Some helpful tips include:
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean water after handling flood-affected items or participating in any flood clean-up activities, after going to the toilet and always before handling or eating food.
- Avoid coughing or sneezing on others and avoid the use of common or unclean eating utensils, toothbrushes, towels or handkerchiefs.
- Avoid all unnecessary contact with mud and floodwaters. If you must walk through mud or enter floodwaters, always wear solid shoes, not thongs or sandals. Always wear gloves when handling flood-affected items or mud. Keep children out of flood-affected areas.
- All cuts and abrasions should be cleaned, treated with antiseptic and covered immediately. If you have a deep cut or wound, if a wound has had contact with floodwaters or if a wound develops redness, swelling or discharge, seek immediate medical attention.
- Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Use an insect repellent on exposed skin areas and reapply every couple of hours. Cover up as much as possible with loose-fitting and light-coloured clothing. Should you or any of your family have severe diarrhoea or vomiting, please seek immediate medical assistance. If you have these symptoms, you’ll need extra fluids to replace what you lose. The best fluids to take are those that contain a mixture of special salts (electrolytes) and sugars, (e.g. Gastrolyte) which can be purchased from local pharmacies.
Public Health Advice Fact Sheets
- NSW Health Fact Sheet - Staying Healthy During and After Floods
- NSW Health Fact Sheet - Mosquitoes Health Hazard
- Beyond Blue - Looking After Yourself - Emotional Responses After a Disaster
Please avoid swimming and any other recreational contact with our waterways during the current significant rainfall conditions. Extended heavy rainfall increases the risk of our waterways being impacted by pollution due to stormwater run-off.
If you use bushland reserves you should take care as the conditions of access roads, walking tracks and fire trails may have changed as a result of the storm or fire. Any reports of damage to walking tracks and fire trails should be reported to Council on 1300 463 954.
Clean Up Information
Please be advised that floodwaters may also contain sewage contamination and the community is advised to take appropriate precautions. This includes wearing of protective gloves and clothing and following health advice. For information on personal protection when cleaning up around your property, NSW Health and Red Cross can provide information for general public health. www.redcross.org.au/about/how-we-help/international-aid/health-and-wellbeing
Waste
We will continue to pick up storm/flood damaged waste over the coming weeks. This will not impact residents’ annual allocation of kerbside pickups. Please put this waste on your kerbside and call Cleanaway on 1300 126 278 to let us know it is ready to pick up.
Please ensure that household chemicals such as paints, gas bottles, motor oil, household cleaners, fire extinguishers, pesticides and pool chemicals are NOT placed on the kerb. Leaking chemicals can cause serious environmental effects, polluting our region's waterways.
These items can be dropped off for free 9am-3.30pm this weekend, 22 and 23 February at Event Park, Kangoo Road Kariong or next weekend, 29 February and 1 March at our Long Jetty Depot, corner The Entrance and Wyong Roads.
www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/residents/waste-and-recycling/disposing-hazardous-waste
Water Restrictions
As a reminder in the event of, or where there is a risk of, an accident, fire, hazard to health or the environment, water restrictions do not apply. This includes the hosing of driveways to clear debris left by the recent storm event.
Number of homes impacted
NSW Fire and Rescue, RFS and SES Building Impact Assessment teams continue to inspect properties impacted by the flood and supply key information to landowners as they look to clean-up and take the next step.
Currently an assessment on 33% of the impacted area has now been completed.
Disaster relief for individuals
Grants are available from the NSW Government for eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household contents have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster.
To be eligible for this grant you must:
- be a low-income earner and meet an income assets test
- demonstrate that the affected home is your principal place of residence
- not be covered by insurance
- demonstrate that the damage was caused by the disaster
- lodge the application within four months of the disaster occurring
Contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444.
Central Coast Flood Recovery Centre and Outreach
As a community we are a resilient bunch, however information and support are vital for the entire community as we move through the recovery phase.
Over 100 food hampers have gone out today to people on the Coast in need, and with over 400 enquiries for support from impacted individuals or families our Recovery Centre and work with other outreach services are vital for recovery.
The home base for the Recovery Centre is:
- The Entrance Community Centre (Building E), Battley Avenue, The Entrance which is open from 9am to 5pm weekdays and from 10am to 4pm Saturdays. Note the centre is closed on Sundays.
A range of services are available for you to meet with face-to-face, helping one step at a time.
Accessing an outreach service has been completed, this is especially for those living in our more remote areas.
The Recovery Outreach Service can be contacted via Disaster Welfare on 1800 018 444 and are open on the following days:
Blue Haven Community Centre, 1 Aspley Court Blue Haven
- Saturday 22 February 10am-2pm
- Tuesday 25 February 10am-4pm
- Tuesday 3 March 10am–4pm
Mangrove Mountain Community Hall - Corner of Wisemans Ferry Road and Waratah Road, Mangrove Mountain
- Wednesday 26 February 5-8pm (information briefing starts at 5.30pm)
Advice from the RFS,SES and Ausgrid
For an emergency that is life-threatening call 000 immediately.
For emergency help regarding bushfires call your local fire station.
For emergency help regarding direct flooding or trees down on private property call the NSW SES on 132 500 or visit their website www.ses.nsw.gov.au
For fallen powerlines or trees on powerlines please call AUSGRID on 13 13 88. Please DO NOT GO ANYWHERE NEAR FALLEN TREES, they are often tangled with powerlines and can be extremely dangerous.
For the latest weather warnings refer to the BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY at www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings
Want more info?
We are adding to our online recovery resources daily. Stay up-to-date with the latest information and start exploring your needs at www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/helpful-information-following-severe-weather