tagged w/ flood appeal
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Bundaberg residents have returned to the town to inspect the damage and start the long job of cleaning up. The scene confronting them is one of absolute devastation, with many more homes than expected ripped completely from their foundations and roads eroded away by flood water right down below the gravel base.
Large holes now reside in place of tarmac roads where flood water raced through at incredible speeds. In fact the flood waters were so fast they cut off the escape of many people from Bundaberg and a large evacuation had to take place using helicopters to move hundreds of people from the roofs of their houses. Many people have returned to find some houses now sitting in the middle of roads, other backyards, or deep holes where the earth was swept out and carried away by the swollen Burnett River after it burst it's banks.
Many Bundaberg residents only just finished restoring their homes after they were ruined in the 2010/2011 floods. Quite a number of people only just finished restorations in the last couple of weeks, so you can imagine they are pretty heartbroken to see much of their hard work wrecked again by unprecedented flooding. To make things worse there have been spectators coming to see things for themselves without stopping to help the people who are trying to clean up the damage a start piecing their lives back together.
Thousands of homes have been damaged, many, many businesses, and much of the town's infrastructure must be rebuilt. But before this can begin, first the mud, silt and debris must be cleaned up and removed. So far donations and generosity have not come close to matching the appeal that was set up after the 2010/2011 floods, and the people affected have been hit twice as hard this time around. Even the smallest donation would be greatly appreciated and go a long way to helping heal the wounds a little bit for the many people experiencing these very challenging conditions.
Red Cross in partnership with the Queensland Government established the Queensland Floods Appeal 2013 to provide assistance to individuals, families and communities directly affected by the floods, tornados and storm damage.
All donations go directly to the people affected and can be made at the following address.
http://www.redcross.org.au/qld-floods-2013.aspxBundaberg residents have returned to the town to inspect the damage and start the long... more
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