Fire or life threatening emergencies: 000
Emergency Information: 13 3337
SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
Floods can cause severe damage and disruptions to households and communities. Recovery can be difficult, and you may find it emotional and stressful for you and your family. If you live alone, you may want to bring someone with you when you return to home.
Electricity, water, gas and sewerage may not be working. There could also be road and airport closures and loss of communications.
If your home has been damaged, there are a number of support services available for emergency assistance, accommodation, food and water.
If you need help to remove debris, call your local government and/or the State Emergency Service on 132 500.
Be aware that calls for assistance are prioritised to assist those most in need first so it might take several hours or even days before assistance may come.
Contact your insurance company to report any damage or loss as soon as you can. They will need to send an assessor to your property to process your claim. Depending on their advice, you may be able to begin repairs and any rebuilding. Check with your insurance company before you enter a contract with cleaning or repair contractors, to avoid additional bills.
If you are a tenant and have contents insurance contact your insurer, in addition to telling your real estate agent, owner, landlord or Department of Communities.
If you need emergency accommodation, check to see if this is covered in your insurance policy.
If you cannot remember the name of your insurance company or the details are not available, you can contact the Insurance Council of Australia on 1300 728 228.
Your wellbeing is extremely important and it’s completely normal to feel psychological and emotional distress after an emergency situation.
Most people will recover over time with the support of family and friends. However, after a crisis it is often easier to talk to someone who is not involved in the situation and is trained to listen.
