Awakening to the flood

Hello Everyone in Lismore and Surrounds I know many of you may have similar stories in these sad times. Five days and still no power . 

Actually starting to enjoy black coffee and cold showers! It is difficult to reach out with no power and do those things I normally would for the running of our group. We are up on a hill but the devestation just at the bottom of our street is appalling. So sad for Lismore and its wonderful people. 

Hard to believe how the tinny army rallied and the community are pulling together to get through this truly heartbreaking event. I feel so proud to be part of this community. It brings tears. As the water recedes the scale and magnitude of the horrendous destruction is unfurling. Not sure Lismore will ever recover. 

Our little local "Distractions Cafe" at the bottom of our hill has thrown in the towel, packed up and won't reopen. Who can blame them? I am fearful this story will be repeated throughout the flood ravaged areas. So many frightening and heartrending tales, but also tales of bravery and selflessness. 

Now supermarts are bare, no fuel available, may run out of potable water, but we are blessed and much more fortunate than so many others. The CBD and many parts below look like thay have been hit by a bomb. Very confronting. But people are strong and resilient. They will get through. Some places upstream got over 800mm in a little more than 24 hours...8am Sunday to 8.25am Monday. No wonder we flooded so severely...worst on record. More than 2 m above previous record in 1880s. Our roads were already in a deplorable state of disrepair and for once, I am pleased that money had not been wasted on fixing them! 

There had already been a plea by our wonderful local MP for a government grant to rectify this. It has become even more critical. This local MP is more than merely a politician. She is a true humanitarian who has demonstrated this repeatedly throughout this whole disaster. So many of us are extremely grateful to Janelle Saffin - Member for Lismore .The services are struggling and at the critical times our community managed to pull together. 

My hope is that we can carry this through our recovery phase as times go on. I can now detect that tempers are frayed, people are stressed as they face their own reality and complaints are beginning to filter through. Patience , tolerance and kindness, treating all with respect and dignity when dealing with these many issues will help bring a sense of calm and can send a strong message to those around. 

At this time now, let us keep this to the fore and thus help to ease, not add to, the inevitable pressures surrounding us. People are seriously traumatised and let us recognise this. It may come out as anger, and may be directed your way. I urge deep understanding and gentle tolerance as we face our daily battles. 

Bless you all. 

"We don't "get over" or "move on" from our trauma. We are forced to make space for it. We carry it. We learn to live with it. And sometimes we thrive in spite of it. " ~Anon.