Summer Ready
IN PREPAREDNESS FOR SUMMER DISASTERS
We're being told to brace ourselves for a long, hot and dry summer in Victoria. And with that comes the increased risk of disasters.
Fires can strike at any time of the day and night, and they can wreak havoc quickly, causing damage to homes, properties, and people's lives.
When disasters present, people are displaced. And it can take incredible effort to get life back to normal, and homes and properties back to a habitable state.
That's when people turn to Disaster Recovery Army for help. Whether it's help clearing, making things safe, with their pets, rebuilding, temporary accommodation, material aid, or any other myriad of needs, we need to be ready to assist.
In defiance of convention, we won't wait for a disaster to happen to be prepared to respond. Rather, we take the proactive approach to be ready before a disaster, and to be able to deliver assistance to people straight away - lessening the impact of events that people suffer.
Coordinating preparedness is an enormous task. Being prepared requires great resources. It requires a community effort, and we need your help to continue helping others.
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Summer Ready campaign is on until
24th December 2024
More about the campaign
Transforming the narrative of disaster recovery from one of despair to one of empowerment and renewal, ensuring communities rise from the ruins with strength.
Fire, Flood or Storm – Disaster Recovery Army is preparing to help this season.
Disaster Recovery Army Incorporated is a charity that provides relief and recovery to people suffering as a result of disaster.
With the arrival of summer, we’re heeding the warnings of the dangers lurking. Much of Victoria is at an elevated risk of destructive bushfires this summer, and there is likely going to be assistance required across the state.
We’ve just launched our 'Summer Ready' campaign - an initiative focuses on securing crucial resources to set up four strategically placed depots throughout Victoria.
Preparedness serves as the cornerstone of effective disaster recovery, playing a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of disasters on communities. When we’re prepared, we lay the groundwork for a more resilient response to disasters. This proactive approach not only enhances the safety and security of people and communities but also fosters a culture of resilience that can help withstand challenges.
A key component of effective disaster recovery is the preparedness for recovery efforts. Disasters commonly create situations of crises, so being able to jump in and commence recovery needs to occur fast.
Recovery encompasses a multi-faceted process aimed at restoring and revitalising communities affected by disasters. This recovery goes beyond simply rebuilding infrastructure; it involves a holistic approach that addresses the social, economic, and psychological impacts of disasters on affected individuals and communities. The primary goal of disaster recovery is to facilitate a return to normalcy, while enhancing resilience.
Consider this:
Bianca, a small-scale cattle farmer and single mother of three, recently lost everything in a catastrophic bushfire. The fierce blazes destroyed her home and possessions, her car, farm equipment, many of her animals, her water tank, fencing – everything in the fires path is gone. Bianca is at her lowest point, alone, feeling unsure of how to start over again after being devastated, uprooted, and without adequate insurance.
Just imagine being in Bianca’s situation. It’s easy to appreciate why Bianca would feel helpless, overwhelmed, and in search of hope. It’s at this point when Bianca contacts Disaster Recovery Army.
Through swift response capabilities and resourced depots, Disaster Recovery Army stands in to assist Bianca by coordinating efforts to secure and clear her property, organise fence replacement, provide essential items, relocate and take care of her surviving cows, arrange safe water, provide alternative accommodation, food, and counselling. We’re there to help her rebuild and restore her family’s life.
If not for the help of Disaster Recovery Army, Bianca’s dire situation would likely continue. With summer expected to bring elevated fire risk across Victoria, increasing the likelihood of experiences like Bianca’s recurring.
Disaster Recovery Army is a charity that exists to do exactly what Bianca required. Our purpose is to provide relief and recovery to people and communities who are suffering after a disaster. Our skilled and volunteer troops are here to help following any disaster – fire, flood or storm.
Our approach to disaster recovery includes preparedness for future challenges. By fostering the culture of preparedness, communities can take comfort in being empowered with the knowledge that Disaster Recovery Army can be called upon, immediately.
Disaster Recovery Army’s ‘Summer Ready’ campaign is all about us being prepared for the season, including being able to mobilise fast across Victoria.
As a charity, for us to be able to help people like Bianca (it could even be you!), Disaster Recovery Army relies on the support of communities, people and businesses in being ready to respond to disaster events.
Our approach to disaster recovery emphasises preparedness for future challenges, including investing in the equipment, tools, supplies and resources necessary to respond to and mitigate the impacts of disasters. By fostering the culture of preparedness, communities can take comfort in being empowered with the knowledge that Disaster Recovery Army can be called upon, immediately.
Here's what we’re doing:
• We’re planning opening four depots to operate from (in Geelong, Bendigo, Stawell and Sale). These depots will allow us to be with around 3 hours from any state disaster location. To do this, we need to secure the premises, furnish and supply the locations, and recruit and train troops. There’s a significant investment required to do this.
• We need at least 8 response trailers that are to be decked out with essential tools, equipment and supplies. Each trailer costs over $10,000 to have ready.
• When disaster strikes and we’re needed to help relieve, restore and recover, we set up base camps for our professional and volunteer troops. Each base camp costs around $5,000 a week to run (insurance, supplies, electricity, accommodation, food etc).
• We’re actively recruiting new troops – skilled and volunteer recovery angels. Many of the new troops will require some level of training (first aid, snake bite, working at heights, ladders, chainsaws, tools, equipment and tech). They will also need personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Response costs. When we’re called into action, each person/property we attend will have different needs which we will assess on a case-by-case basis. Supplies required in responding can include waste/debris disposal, water tanks, cleaning supplies, fencing – to name just a couple.
You can help transform the narrative of disaster recovery from one of despair to one of empowerment and renewal, ensuring that people and communities can rise from the ruins with strength, unity, and dignity.
The impact of supporting Disaster Recovery Army will also help build social networks and offer psychological support to those affected, and also restore a sense of community and belonging – vital for long-term recovery.
Helping us be ready to help those affected by disaster extends beyond immediate recovery response efforts. It also contributes to inclusiveness and sustainability, and lays the groundwork long-term community resilience.
Every contribution matters. And because we’re a registered charity (with deductible gift recipient endorsement), all donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Your generosity is crucial. Please don’t wait until after calamity strikes – take action now!
If you can help us in any other way – supplies, equipment, services, tools, etc, please get in touch with us at hello@disaster.org.au .
Please share this message with your networks and on socials. On behalf of those we help, we thank you for your kindness, care and support.
Are you able to show your support by making a donation to us?
Every donation matters.
Simply click on the 'Donate' button to be transferred to our PayPal page for a secure transaction process.
Why we need to be prepared
When disaster strikes, people need immediate help.
For Disaster Recovery Army to be able to respond to requests for assistance fast, we need to ensure we're well resourced with equipment, supplies, and a ready-to-deploy force of troops to help.
When demand peaks, especially if across multiple locations, people and communities will be relying us to assist in recovery, and to help restore lives and properties.
As a charity, our reach and effectiveness is determined by the resources we have at any point in time, so we're on a mission to build on our resources. We need your help.
As part of the Summer ready campaign, we're asking people and businesses to support us in raising funds, supplies and equipment that we can use to deliver help to vulnerable people who are suffering following a disaster.
People Power needed! Can you volunteer?
Like all charities, we utilise volunteers who care about people and their community to help deliver our help to those in need.
Are you able to offer your time to help others?
Why not register your interest in becoming a volunteer? Just head to our volunteer registration page and complete a short registration form, and one of our admin team members will be in contact shortly to discuss where you might fit in.
How else you can help us
There are other ways you can help us expand our reach throughout Victoria, and deliver vital disaster recovery work to affected people.
If you're a business or another community organisation, why not consider partnering with, or sponsoring, Disaster Recovery Army?
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