For the latest alerts visit ses.nsw.gov.au.
If you need emergency help caused by the flooding, call 132 500.
For life threatening emergencies, call 000.
For current weather warnings visit, bom.gov.au.
Follow SES and BoM on socials
- NSW SES Facebook page
- Search for your specific region on Facebook using ‘NSW SES’ in the social media platform’s search bar and a list will appear with blue-tick authenticated pages
Looking for ways to help?
GIVIT is a national, online charity connecting those who have with those need by the simple act of giving. You can donate new and quality, pre-loved goods, and more. It’s the smart way to give to people and communities recovering from an emergency or disaster. Donations made via GIVIT provide critical and immediate support. Visit givit.org.au.
The NSW State Emergency Service is the lead agency in the response to floods, storms and tsunamis in NSW, and is also a community-based and not-for-profit organisation with more than 9000 volunteers. Visit ses.nsw.gov.au.
Providing humanitarian support to people and communities in New South Wales affected by the 2021 floods. Based on ongoing needs assessment and amount raised, this support may include disaster relief including practical and financial assistance, and supporting people and communities to recover and to build resilience to disasters. Visit redcross.org.au.
Ready to provide emergency food hampers to thousands of families who have been evacuated from their homes. Visit foodbank.org.au.
Samaritan’s Purse is mobilising their disaster response team for deployment in areas of South East Queensland and northern New South Wales that have been hit with catastrophic flooding to bring immediate relief to hurting families in Jesus’ Name. Visit samaritanspurse.org.au.
The Salvation Army Emergency Services Team and volunteers are in full operation across evacuation centres in QLD and NSW providing meals and emotional support to emergency workers and people escaping from the floodwaters. Visit salvationarmy.org.au.
The Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network (DRCN) is an ecumenical network of chaplains established to assist people in NSW who have been affected by disasters and major emergencies within their communities. The network was established in 2009 by the Uniting Church (Synod of NSW and ACT) as a result of deliberations within the State Disaster Welfare Committee, which recognised the need for chaplaincy to complement the other welfare services within evacuation and recovery centres following major emergencies. Visit nswact.uca.org.au and nswdrcn.org.au.
One of Australia’s largest rural charities and well known for the successful ‘Buy a Bale’ campaign. The charity also provides financial assistance, water and counselling to farmers in times of drought, flood or fire. Visit ruralaid.org.au.
The Presbyterian Church in NSW has many congregations in areas that are currently affected by flooding. Our brothers and sisters in these places need us to pray for them and their communities. Jericho Road will be sending funds to local congregations to spend and distribute in their local areas to support those who have been affected by the floods. Visit jerichoroad.org.au.
ARDFA has opened up a Flood Appeal to enable our supporters to donate funds to support flood victims through local Anglican churches and dioceses. Churches are embedded in the community and have the network and the relationships in the community to know how to best assist flood victims and support longer-term recovery. Visit ardfa.org.au/flood-appeal
Gaining access to flood affected communities, RSPCA NSW is helping people help animals. Their Community Outreach teams are distributing animal products including wet and dry pet food, flea, tick and worm medication, pet crates and other animal products at evacuation centres. Visit rspcansw.org.au.
Looking for non-emergency support?
Help is available when you’re going through a tough time and need to talk. Here are some great counselling and community services available to you and your loved ones.
The hope collective is powered by Hopeland – it’s a community where everyone brings their best to help spread a little (or a lot) of hope and encouragement throughout our city. Find out more about supplying products and services to those in need, or nominating someone who needs support.
Prayer is an important part of who we are at Hope 103.2. Prayer has the potential to transform people and cultures. Prayer has the ability to unite communities and build hope, regardless of circumstances. Prayer is one of the ways we, at Hope 103.2, can support and journey with you in all seasons of life. To be with you in the times of trial and crisis and praise God with you in the moments of joy and celebration. If you have a prayer request you would like our team to uphold in prayer please send us your prayer requests.
Flood victims are eligible for free legal advice as they recover from the devastating rains over the weekend. Lawyers from the Disaster Response Legal Service NSW team stand ready to provide legal assistance covering a range of issues, including insurance claims, tenancy, credit and debt, financial hardship, social security entitlements and employment. Free legal advice is available to anyone effected by a disaster. For more intensive casework, a means and merit test is applied. Victims of disasters are priority clients of Legal Aid NSW. Anyone needing legal help can call Disaster Response Legal Service NSW on 1800 801 529, your local Legal Aid NSW office or visit disasterhelp.legalaid.nsw.gov.au.
The latest news around the State
Listen Live to the Hope News team on the hour, weekdays 6am-6pm
Interviews from the Hope 103.2 team
Find out more about our Hope 103.2 shows
On Hope Breakfast with Ally & Brendan
Impact on schools and hospitals
Listen: Sydney nurse Stacey Lamont, who has family in the Northern Rivers region, explains the impact of the floods on schools and hospitals
Power of God’s love in crisis
Listen: Ballina pastor Rachel Tantari, who has lost her business in Lismore, reflects on the power of God’s love in crisis
From those who have lost homes, here is how you can be helpful
Listen: Marcus Bebb, who has lost his home and possessions in the floods, explains what’s next for his family and how people can support them
On Hope Mornings with Katrina Roe
The decimation of a Lismore library and what it will take to rebuild
Listen: Lucy Kinsley from Richmond Tweed Regional Library in Lismore describes the decimation of their book collection and what it will take to build it back up again.
Lismore business devastated for second time in five years
Listen: Lismore business owner Natasha Gerrad explained how the floods devastated her business for the second time in five years, Monday 28 February
Warning not to drive in floodwaters: how little water it takes to float a car
Listen: Water engineer Brett Miller from the Water Research Laboratory explained just how little water it takes to float a car and why you should never drive through floodwaters, Friday 4 March
One of the “lucky ones” despite his business being flooded
Listen: Local business owner Phillip Molloy described why he was one of the “lucky ones”, even though his business was flooded, Monday 7 March
On Hope Afternoons with Ben McEachen
What you should and should not donate
Listen: Anglicare NSW Disaster Recovery Manager Magnus Linder spoke about the 1000 volunteers who have helped flood victims across NSW and what we should and should not donate, Friday 11 March
Inside an evacuation centre: how volunteers keep going
Listen: Tweed Heads and South Gold Coast Salvation Army core officer Nicole Viles, a co-ordinator at Banora Point Evacuation Centre, shared what it was like at the centre and how volunteers keep going, Tuesday 1 March
Discussion: integrated efforts of government with local frontline services
Listen: NSW Council of Social Services CEO Joanna Quilty discussed whether the State Government and Resilience NSW did enough to integrate well with local frontline services in flood-affected areas, Friday 4 March
On Hope Drive with Laura Bennett
Experience of flood-affected QLD residents and importance of spiritual support
Daniel Stephens from Samaritan’s Purse is currently in the QLD town of Goona, a low-lying low socio-economic area of the State that was already struggling before being hit by the floods. Together with a team of Samaritan’s Purse volunteers, Daniel is helping residents begin to clean up and assess the damage to their homes, while also offering them spiritual and emotional support as they grapple with the loss they have faced.
Listen: Samaritans Purse team member Daniel Stephens talked about the experience of flood-affected residents in QLD, and how important spiritual support is at this time, Friday 11 March
Lismore photo agency pivots from entertainment and celebrities to photojournalism flood coverage
SJ is the co-founder of Media Mode, a photo agency that normally covers entertainment and celebrity-based events whose images are used extensively across Australian and international outlets. Based in Lismore, SJ’s business quickly pivoted as the floods arrived on her doorstep, distributing images of the disaster to publications across the country, doing what she could to get the stories of locals out there. Many of the photos seen across the news have been captured by Media Mode, and SJ spoke about what it was like covering something so personal, and the impact she hopes the footage has.
Listen: Photo-agency founder SJ speaks about covering the floods that hit her hometown of Lismore, and the struggles of capturing something so personal, Friday 11 March