Dealing with the aftermath
Thousands of families across QLD and NSW are still dealing with the aftermath of this year’s floods. (Photo: Dean Saffron)
When the Desvaux family were told to evacuate their home just outside of Grafton during last month’s flooding disaster, they left with their dog and not much more than the clothes on their backs. With nowhere to go and their home destroyed, the family of four were forced to live in their car.
“It’s really rough [to sleep in a car] with two kids and a dog,” says Brittany Desvaux. “We tried about five or six different people … and they wouldn’t help us”.
So when Brittany walked into The Salvation Army in Grafton she was at breaking point. She was 26 weeks pregnant, her rental home had been flooded, the family’s possessions were lost and her children were devastated – their Christmas presents only recently opened were ruined.
“As soon as I told them [The Salvation Army] that we’d been staying in the car they made us food on the spot while they organised accommodation,” she remembers. “We would still be homeless if it wasn’t for them”.
The Salvation Army organised emergency accommodation for the family and helped them out with food vouchers and other short-term items they needed. When the family found another rental home, The Salvation Army provided them with furniture and household appliances to get them back on their feet. “It’s amazing, the stuff they’ve done for us,” says Brittany. “And they’ve been so supportive”.
Brittany’s partner Aaron admits that the family is “shattered” and the kids are still coming to terms with the upheaval the disaster has had on their lives. Unable to work due to a back injury, he says the financial strain of losing all of their possessions is huge. “We are still trying to work out who is responsible for all our stuff”.
“But you [The Salvation Army] have been a blessing – you really have,” he says.
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