Disaster Relief Fund

In December 2010 and January 2011, Queensland was struck by a series of devastating floods that forced the evacuation of thousands of people across the State and affected more than 200,000 homes. Three quarters of our State was declared a disaster zone with 35 people killed. With a massive damage bill, estimated at around A$1 billion, the disaster tested the resilience and resolve of many Queensland communities.

These events and others that year, including Cyclone Yasi, and earthquakes in Christchurch and Tokohu, Japan, provided a catalyst for the formation of Redland Foundation’s own Disaster Relief Fund.

Recently, Cyclone Debbie created havoc over a wide area of Queensland, reminding us all that disaster can strike quickly.

What is it?

The Redland Foundation Disaster Relief Fund is a fund established by the Redland Foundation in 2011 to ensure that immediate financial support is available to support local residents, businesses and organisations impacted by natural disasters.

The Foundation works co-operatively with the Redland Local Disaster Management Group (LMDG), the Redland SES and the Queensland Police service operating in the Redlands community, to provide support for both emergency relief in the first two to three days of a natural disaster and then during any recovery phase.

The Foundation responds to requests and advice from emergency service groups to relieve hardship within the community. Response is triggered by the declaration of a local disaster by the LDMG and/or the call by the LDMG for assistance for small severe events.

Criteria

The Foundation’s Board applies the following criteria in responding to demands:

Rescue Phase

• Response to requests will be ‘case specific’, with focus on immediate needs for food, shelter, and clothing, where these are not being met by other services.
• Emphasis will be placed on the young (0-12 years of age) and then individuals and family units.
• Level of assistance will be on a ‘needs’ basis subject to available funds and be applied consistently in three categories of ‘high need’, ‘medium need’, and ‘low but necessary need’.
• The Foundation’s Board may allocate assistance either directly or via the Red Cross, or indeed via any other Charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status that may be involved in the process.
• Responses to requests will be co-ordinated and cross referenced with the LDMG and the Community Recovery Committee to ensure fairness and avoid duplication.

Recovery Phase

The criteria used during the rescue phase also applies during the recovery phase, but includes consideration of the following:

• Needs for school clothing and schooling needs.
• Medical assistance
• Clean up and repairs.
• Assistance with insurance claims, Government grants/loans etc.
• Assistance for re-location and re-building.
• Consideration of Business and Community organisation hardship.