Disaster relief: how to help and get help
Natural disasters can devastate lives, communities and economies, and, unfortunately, they’re becoming more common. Rain and flooding reached record-breaking levels in Australia in 2022, a period of such upheaval that the Climate Council named it the ‘Great Deluge.’
With extreme weather patterns expected to occur more frequently in future, those affected by natural disasters will continue to rely on the support and generosity of others to recover.
Here you can find out what relief is available if you have been affected by a natural disaster, as well as ways that you can offer your support to those in need.
The impact of natural disasters
On average, natural disasters cause the deaths of 45,000 people around the world every year, and research shows that 70% of Australians have been affected by natural disasters in some way – that’s roughly 18 million people.
There’s also a huge economic cost. There were 38,000 insurance claims, totalling over $2 billion in losses, after bushfires devastated the country in 2019-20. Tropical Cyclone Debbie caused losses of $3.5 billion when it ripped through the Sunshine Coast in 2017.
On an individual level, disasters like these can cost everything. Len and his two dogs were left homeless after a tornado destroyed his house in Christmas 2023, and just a week earlier the Haskell family lost all their belongings after Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused flooding in Queensland.
The generosity of donors is helping Len and the Haskell family recover from the financial cost of these disasters, and such fundraisers are going to be even more important in the future.
How to get help after a natural disaster
If you’re affected by a natural disaster, the most important thing to do in the immediate aftermath is stay safe. Follow instructions from the emergency services to ensure the welfare of yourself and your family.
Once you’re out of danger, you can start to think about recovering from the impact of the disaster, and there are a few options to consider.
Get support from the government
There are a number of ways you can get support from the government in the event of a natural disaster. The exact help you can get will depend on which state or territory you reside in, but can include relief payments and grants, counselling and support services, and housing assistance.
The Federal Government’s Moneysmart website has a useful list of recovery services you can access in each state after a natural disaster.
Get in touch with charities and other relief organisations
Charities and other organisations will be on the ground in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, providing financial relief, food, shelter, and emotional support.
The Salvation Army distributed over $500,000 in financial assistance after Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the subsequent flooding, as well as food and other vital resources at evacuation centres and recovery hubs.
How you access those resources will depend on the situation, but recovery hubs and evacuation centres – which is where you’ll usually be able to get support – are set up by the relevant State Government. If you’re unsure of what help you can get, use Moneysmart’s list of recovery services for more information.
Turn to friends and family for help
If you have friends or family near you, lean on them for support when recovering from a natural disaster. They’ll first want to know you’re ok, so make sure to register your safety with the Australian Red Cross as soon as you’re able to do so. This service will also help you find other people who have registered.
Once you’re reunited with friends or family, talk to them about what support you need. That could be immediate needs like food or shelter, help dealing with the emotional burden of a disaster, or assistance with financial arrangements. The Australian Red Cross has some advice about how to deal with the emotional impact, as well as guidance on how friends and family can help.
How to help people after a natural disaster
Whether it’s donating your time, money, belongings, or simply just talking to someone, you can make a difference to people whose lives have been destroyed by natural disasters.
Volunteer for a relief organisation
Many disaster relief organisations rely on teams of volunteers to carry out their vital work. You can volunteer with nonprofits like Disaster Relief Australia and ShelterBox Australia to provide support to those who have been affected by natural disasters.
Emergency response is a big part of what these organisations do, but in many cases you can also volunteer for behind-the-scenes roles in areas such as training, administration, and community support.
Provide emotional support
The days and weeks following a natural disaster are an emotional time for the people affected, so simply being present to provide support is important. If you know someone recovering from a disaster, mental health charity Phoenix Australia has some advice on how to help them:
- Encourage self-care like getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well
- Help them establish a routine and suggest they limit their exposure to news about the event
- Listen to them when they’re ready to talk, but be aware you don’t need to have fixes or answers to their problems
- Reassure them that what they’re feeling is normal
- Encourage them to get professional help if they’re struggling to cope
Donate money or supplies
One of the easiest ways to contribute after a natural disaster is to donate money or vital supplies to those affected. You can make a monetary donation online through a charity’s website or donate to an emergency fundraiser.
You can also donate food to organisations like Foodbank, or clothing to charities such as The Salvation Army and Australian Red Cross. These organisations will then distribute items to those in need in times of emergency.
Raise funds for affected communities
Online fundraisers can help people recovering from natural disasters get their lives back on track, but those affected may not have the means to set one up themselves.
Reach out to people who have been affected and set up a fundraiser on their behalf. It could be for a friend or family member, or to help a whole community that is recovering from the effects of a natural disaster. What’s important is that when telling their story, you make it clear to potential donors the extent to which their lives have been affected and how donations will help.
Rallying together to recover from natural disasters
One of the most important things to remember when affected by natural disasters is that you don’t have to deal with it alone. Whether it’s support from family and friends, aid from charities and other relief organisations, or donations to a fundraiser, there is someone out there who is willing to help.