Mid North Coast Disaster Recovery

As part of that support, there is a UCA led network of Disaster Recovery Chaplains 

Direct practical support and advice is provided once the evacuation period is finished and safety concerns addressed. Recovery operations are established from centres across the region. One of the several established for the Mid North Coast Flooding was at Macksville.

Since 2019 there have been 63 disaster recovery operations in NSW, including major floods, fire, cyclone and storm damage; as well as specific human emergency sites [such as the Hunter Valley bus crash, and Boxing Day unit fire in Parramatta (Chinese-speaking chaplains)]. 

"People in need all have their own story and a range of needs - it is not just material possessions lost but the experience can fundamentally affect them to their core", Disaster Chaplain Desley Morgan explained. "Many are also very isolated due to access issues and loss of electricity, sometimes for quite a period".

These centres co-locate staff of government and non-government emergency and relief organisations, and volunteers such as the Chaplains. These services go through phases of need, with donations welcome when the time is right eg. a helping hand and caring ear, plus food and clothing and access to livable accommodation is primary, but say furniture without anywhere to store or transport it can be untimely.

"It's a privilege to work with  teams committed to caring for those who have suffered the losses from the recent flood" says Desley Morgan, Chaplain DCRN (Disaster Relief Chaplaincy Network) from the UCA (and congregation member of Sawtell UC). "The approach by all groups is to help whenever possible, and the cooperation and partnership between agencies is so positive."

The photo shows many of the team at Macksville.