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Communities across the east coast have been decimated by floods in recent days, leading to an outpouring of support across Australia.
Homes have been washed away, business have been destroyed, livelihoods have been left in tatters, and people have lost their lives in the mass flood event that has stunned the nation.
Thousands have been displaced and there are evacuation orders spanning two states as water levels continue to rise.
So, whether you want to lend a hand in the clean-up, donate supplies, or even want to help for the long-term, here are the practical ways you can make a difference.
In Lismore we have done floods for ever. This is not a flood - this is catastrophic. This is extreme. This is climate change. Lismore needs back up. People are on and in their roof some are screaming for their lives and water is still rising. Friends are rescuing friends. pic.twitter.com/NwikdHTX0V
— Sue Higginson (@SueHigginson_) February 27, 2022
Send goods
Many communities are currently asking their fellow Aussies not to donate clothing and other goods unless specifically requested, as many of the impacted locations don't have enough resources to actually process them, keep them, or don't even have postal services to receive them.
That being said, donation platform GIVIT allows individuals that do need goods donated to post what specific things they need.
And you can either donate the item itself or provide funding to get them there, which is nifty.
Foodbank Queensland, NSW and ACT have launched flood appeals, so if a tin drive or providing food is more up your alley, they are gearing up yo support affected communities and charities during the recovery period.
The utter devastation of the 2022 Lismore Flood…photos from #NathanDawson: pic.twitter.com/aesv70uF7n
— 💧 Johny Miller (@jmil400) March 2, 2022
Donate time
You can physically volunteer to help repair and rebuild flood-stricken communities.
The Mud Army has reformed to help flood-affected people in Brisbane clean-up their homes and neighbourhoods.
Anyone who needs physical help - heavy lifting, transport, mould removal, and so on, should check out Crisis Heroes. It's an easy platform to use and coordinates targeted help for those in need.
For more organisations in need of physical volunteers, check out Seek Volunteer for an updated list.
The clean-up continues with Council crews and @AustralianArmy troops at multiple locations across Brisbane. Hopefully we can get Mud Army 2.0 reactivated soon as well! 🤞 pic.twitter.com/e3FQzEZ0Ro
— Adrian Schrinner (@bne_lordmayor) March 3, 2022
Foster Animals
It's not just humans that have been displaced during the flood crisis. Animals also aren't welcome in evacuation centres, so fostering animals for those in need is a great way to help out.
The RSPCA is also asking those with the ability to foster an animal to contact [email protected] and [email protected]
If you see injured or sick wildlife though, make sure you call the RSPCA hotline -1300 ANIMAL.
A Lismore man has braved floodwaters to rescue a dog named Sadie, saving its life and allowing it to be reunited with its owner. #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/6o2Nz8KQsB
— 10 News First Sydney (@10NewsFirstSyd) March 2, 2022
Give money
You can give money to those in need as well. St Vincent de Paul and The Australian Red Cross are both accepting financial donations for flood appeals in NSW and QLD.
Or you can donate to the SES and State Fire Service are working with volunteers to help those in the worst hit areas.
You can donate to the Queensland SES here, and the New South Wales SES here.
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