Australian Disaster Relief
Responding to Floods in the Illawarra, NSW
9 May 2024
During April, record rainfall across the coast of NSW caused landslips and overwhelmed creek and river systems.
Bearing Burdens in Lismore Amidst Disaster
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Bearing Burdens in Lismore Amidst Disaster
May 15, 2022
“Rain bomb” may not be a technical weather term, but it perfectly describes the relentless deluge earlier this year that inundated the city of Lismore and the surrounding Northern Rivers region in New South Wales.
Flooded rivers quickly overwhelmed the city’s levees, and families were trapped in their homes as muddy waters rose in the streets. “I’ve never been so frightened in all my life,” said a retired bricklayer named Dave. He and his wife, Sandy, and their dogs retreated to their attic and had to swim through flooded rooms to escape to a rescue boat.
Now, they face the challenge of rebuilding their home. “Samaritan’s Purse came in and basically took a lot of weight off my hands…blitzed it, they put us in-front by about 3 or 4 days.” Dave said. Volunteers organised by Samaritan’s Purse church partners worked hard to clean out mud-soaked furniture, strip the interior walls, and spray the frame to prevent mould so the house can be repaired.
“When you’ve got a couple of people here, it fires you up and eggs you on…I deeply appreciate their help, they came in wearing a smile, they got stuck into it, they were a Godsend”
Dave
More than 4,000 houses in Lismore were left uninhabitable and 22 residents lost their lives. Dozens of families have asked Samaritan’s Purse for help. More than 50 volunteers have worked to help their neighbours.
Floods are awful, and flood relief work is challenging for everyone involved, from the workers who must clean out the destruction and especially the families who see keepsakes dumped on the curb.
Please pray for the flood survivors of Lismore and for our volunteers and church partners who are helping them in the Name of Jesus Christ. As Samaritan’s Purse works, our teams look forward to opportunities to share the hope we have in our Lord and Saviour. The Gospel is all about making a clean start and repenting from our sin-soaked past. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
Thank you for your support of the work of Samaritan’s Purse here in Australia and around the world. May God bless you.
When disaster strikes, will you answer the call?
