Floods still hit a raw nerve

LAST January, The AJN reported how Guy and Orly Segal had to flee their rental home in the middle of the night with their three children during Queensland’s floods.
A year later, Orly Segal recalled that fateful night.
“We started packing at 6pm until probably after midnight, and then we just left to friends of ours who live a couple of minutes away and it was nearly too late, because the water started rising quite quickly,” she said.
Their house would become submerged to its roof. And while the family had to re-purchase furniture and appliances, Segal said they were thankful for the support they received from members of the community and the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal.
“Looking back, it wasn’t too bad for us because we had a lot of support from the community and good friends and neighbours and you learn from every experience,” she said.
“We actually achieved new friends and closer relationships, and we’re much closer to the Jewish community now.
“We kind of forgot all the feelings [and] emotions straight after the floods. It was quite traumatic but we tried to look at it from a good point of view.
“It’s all behind us basically,” she said.
Not every family was as lucky as the Segals, however.
Queensland Jewish Community Services (QJCS) president Ari Heber said for some of the worst affected, life was still to return to normal.

“The flood’s still here for a lot of people. There’s several people still not in their homes,” he said.
“Lots of suburbs look nice from the outside but inside the houses they’re still gutted.”
Another big issue in the wider community was mental health, he said, with people who had lost everything not knowing what their futures held. But a year on, Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg said the community’s spirit had never been stronger.
“The community spirit that was shown was just outstanding and I think the community has grown as a result of that experience,” he said.
“There were so many people who volunteered to help those who were directly impacted by the flood. I think that gave everyone a lot of impetus for the year, and perhaps they felt good about themselves and volunteering has really increased as a result.”
Heber, who coordinated much of the Jewish relief effort, praised everyone who provided help, from volunteers to those who contributed financially. “There’s just so many people who did so much. It’s actually quite humbling being the front guy for it.”
In the 11 months following the floods, the QJCS Flood Appeal raised more than $200,000 from donors in Australia, the US and the UK.

GARETH NARUNSKY

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