Gold Coast Storms | Press Kit

Since Monday 15 January, Samaritan’s Purse Australian Disaster Relief staff and volunteers have been deployed to Queensland.

UPDATE 29 JANUARY – Since 17 January, teams of volunteers have worked six-day weeks to complete recovery and restoration work in more than 20 homes in the Gold Coast Hinterland suburbs of Upper Coomera and Mt Tamborine. Recovery work has varied greatly, from weatherproofing storm-damaged homes, to removal of dangerous branches and storm debris, to preparing of fallen trees for removal.

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE – 15 JANUARY 2024

Ex-tropical cyclone Jasper continues to impact the state of Queensland from its original touch-down point in Port Douglas, to Logan and the Gold Coast. Tragically, severe storm events have claimed the lives of at least ten people. Entire communities were isolated, and thousands were without power for up to two weeks, hindering emergency services and recovery workers.

In the days following ex-cyclone Jasper in the Far North, on Christmas day, a 4-kilometre-wide tornado devastated Queensland’s Gold Coast. It is estimated nearly 1,000 homes and businesses were impacted across the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim, with more than 500 homes sustaining moderate to severe damage.

“It’s true recovering from this disaster particularly when it comes to those severely damaged and destroyed households, that’s going to take years,” Premier Steven Miles told reporters.

“The construction market continues to be challenging in terms of labour and supplies.”

Beginning Monday 15 January, Samaritan’s Purse Australian Disaster Relief staff and volunteers will begin mobilising to deploy to Queensland, specifically the heavily impacted communities in the Gold Coast. Our team will partner with CrossLife Church as its base of operations in Upper Coomera to host volunteers, as well as store and maintain recovery equipment and vehicles.

The major scope of work for our disaster relief teams is expected to be green waste removal, including assisting with fallen trees and garden and home clean-ups.

To follow coverage of the flood relief response and information about how to help, visit our Gold Coast response page.

To volunteer or donate go to – samaritanspurse.org.au

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: 

Interview Dan Stephens – Australian Disaster Relief Manager, Samaritans Purse Australia & New Zealand

MEDIA CONTACT:
Daniel Goh
Email: danielg@samaritanspurse.org.au
Mobile: 0406 671 249 Office Ph: 1300 884 468

Samaritan’s Purse Australia and New Zealand responds to physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations – especially in locations where few others are working. Samaritan’s Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution.

All photographs and videos below are available for news media outlet use in coverage of Samaritan’s Purse-related stories. If your news outlet uses a photograph, please credit: “Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.” Photographs are not for commercial use.