News Release
17 January 2011

Red Cross Emergency Team Helps Out in Queensland

A four-person New Zealand Red Cross team left for Brisbane last week to boost the massive Australian Red Cross flood relief operation and another four-person team is due to leave on Thursday, January 20.

New Zealand Red Cross International Operations Manager Andrew McKie said, “We’re preparing to send a second team to support the Australian Red Cross and at the end of that period we’ll review our involvement but we are very interested in helping out wherever we can.”

Patrick Cummings and Nancy Kareroa are based in Helidon, about 120km inland from Brisbane. They arrived there on Saturday and have been working in the new evacuation centre Helidon is near Grantham, one of the worst hit areas of the flood and where 14 people are still missing.

Mr Cummings said, “Our job is making sure people who have lost their homes or loved ones are fed, rested and have someone to talk to. We’re there to support them in any way they want us to.”

Grantham, in the Lockyer Valley, is essentially in lock down by police as recovery efforts continue in earnest. Families are not allowed back to their homes yet, creating higher levels of tension and uncertainty about what people may find on their return.

Sally Wast, Invercargill Area Manager, is based at the QE2 centre in Brisbane, helping with the 'meet and greet' of displaced families, settling them into the welfare centre and offering support and assistance. About 1000 people were at this centre, though numbers dropped to 300 over the weekend as families were allowed back to their homes as flood waters around Brisbane receded.

Graeme Langford, emergency management officer based in Auckland, is helping lead logistics coordination in Brisbane as the disaster moves to recovery and clean up.

The Australian Flood Fund, opened by New Zealand Red Cross to provide an opportunity for Kiwis to offer monetary support has reached $18,690 today.

Mr McKie said, “Red Cross volunteers and staff are working around the clock to help people caught up in this desperate situation. We want to do our bit to help.”

“We have been getting a lot of calls from people wanting to help our neighbours across the Tasman and a cash donation is the best way they can do this.”

One hundred per cent of donations to the Australian Floods Fund will go to Australian Red Cross, which is working with other agencies to evacuate people, run welfare centres for people forced to leave their homes by the flooding, going door-to-door in neighbourhoods to check on people, and giving advice on cleaning up after floods and psychological trauma.

Red Cross is only able to accept financial donations. Unsolicited or unwanted goods and services can create delays and distract relief staff and resources from more important or relevant tasks.

Ways to donate:

• Text "Flood" to 336 to donate $3. Texts are free from New Zealand Telecom, Vodafone or 2degree phones.
• Make a secure online donation to the Australian Floods Fund at www.redcross.org.nz/donate
• Send a cheque (made payable to: New Zealand Red Cross) to: Red Cross Australian Floods Fund, Freepost 232690, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144.
• Donate at Kiwibank, ANZ, ASB, BNZ, National or TSB branches.

ENDS

© Scoop Media