A Salvo officer standing by a flooded road A Salvo officer standing by a flooded road

Disaster and Emergency Support

Disaster and Emergency Support

The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) team is available to help those affected across the country.

You are here: HomeNeed HelpDisasters & Emergencies › P13

Disasters and emergencies

From emergency response to recovery, we stand with communities for the long haul, providing financial, material, emotional and spiritual support so lives can be re-established after disaster. 

In the aftermath of a disaster, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of what needs to be done. You don’t have to take that journey alone. The Salvation Army is available to provide advice and clarity, to make sense of what the next steps are and to help you regain some control over the situation. We are here to support you for as long as it takes to recover. 

Victorian Floods and NSW Fires

Last updated 11 October 2023

Recovery assistance

The Salvation Army is providing financial assistance for fire-impacted communities at the Bega- Bermagui Recovery Centre on 11, 12 and 13 October (these dates may change). For those seeking assistance, please bring: 

  • Essential - Photo ID with the address of your flood-damaged house (this needs to be your primary place of residence)  
  • Essential - A Medicare or Health Care Card to show your dependents if you are claiming a grant for your household members  
  • Optional - Any other evidence to demonstrate that you are flood impacted. For example, an insurance claim, referral letter etc. 

Other disaster and emergencies

Flood recovery for Western Australia 

Last updated March 2023

The Salvation Army provided vouchers to assist with the cost of essential items and recovery support from the Broome recovery centre, to help those who were displaced from Fitzroy Crossing, Derby and surrounding areas. The recovery centre is now closed. The following support is available:

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

If you live in the Shire of Derby West Kimberley, the Federal Government is providing a one-off, non-means tested payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for children affected by the floods. 

Closing date: 12 July 2023. Further information: Call 180 22 66

Department of Communities Financial Assistance

Assistance is available to people experiencing hardship and distress as a result of the flooding. If you need emergency financial assistance to repair or replace essential household items, or carry out essential repairs to your house, the Department of Communities may be able to help you.  

Further information: Call 1800 032 965

Accommodation and travel

If you require accommodation or travel support, please contact the Disaster Response Hotline on 1800 032 965. Alternative options for travel support include emailing your personal details, pick up and drop off location and emergency contact to Kimberley.Welfare@communities.wa.gov.au

Last updated 17 January 2023 

At the floods peak in October 2022, The Salvation Army supported evacuation centres in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, providing meals, emotional support and material aid (Victoria only) to people impacted by floods. 

The Salvation Army provided 18,773 meals to evacuees and first responders in the immediate emergency phase. In the early recovery phase, The Salvation Army has distributed 1,095 bedding sets (Victoria only), issued 2,395 grants and distributed $590,640 in financial assistance to 5,512 people since the start of the floods to help meet essential needs such as food, clothing and medical supplies. 

How to access support 

The Salvation Army is no longer available at recovery hubs in Victoria. Our personnel are providing outreach services in Echuca and Rochester to support community members who were unable to access recovery centres. 

In New South Wales, The Salvation Army is currently providing hardship grants to meet immediate essential needs such as food, clothing and medical supplies to people impacted by the floods. To apply, please speak to The Salvation Army personnel at a recovery hub: 

NSW 

*IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Salvation Army personnel may not be present at some sites on rare occasions due to illness or unforeseen circumstances. We apologise for the inconvenience. 

Please bring with you: 

  • Essential - Photo ID with the address of your flood-damaged house (this needs to be your primary place of residence) 
  • Essential - A Medicare or Health Care Card to show your dependents if you are claiming a grant for your household members 
  • Optional - Any other evidence to demonstrate that you are flood impacted. For example, an insurance claim, referral letter etc. 

The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) team has supported response and recovery efforts in Queensland and New South Wales due to the unprecedented flood emergency. SAES and local corps have provided over 40,000 meals and refreshments in more than 20 evacuation centres in the first two weeks of the floods.  The team was in full operation in 30 recovery hubs in Queensland and New South Wales during the peak of the early recovery phase.

The Salvation Army is providing ongoing support to people and communities impacted by the floods through outreach teams in New South Wales and Queensland. In New South Wales, we have outreach teams that cover the Northern Rivers area (Tweed to Grafton) and the Western Sydney Hawkesbury area. In Queensland, we have an outreach team in Brisbane who is supporting community members in the areas of Gympie, Ipswich and the outer suburbs of South Brisbane.

Our Response

Last updated 30 September 2022

Thanks to our generous donors, volunteers and supporters, The Salvation Army has provided  the following support in Queensland and New South Wales:

  • Distributed $13.44 million in financial assistance and in-kind support such as food parcels, clothing and household items
  • Issued 39,676 recovery grants
  • Assisted 42,218 people
  • 250+ volunteers deployed in a total of 30 recovery hubs in QLD and NSW (now closed)
  • 7488+ volunteer hours worked at evacuation centres (now closed)
  • 42,647+ meals and refreshments served at evacuation centres (now closed)

The Salvation Army has provided ongoing care and support to communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20. All grants have now closed and our bushfire chaplains are still offering support to people who were impacted.

You can read more about how The Salvation Army supported communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires in the latest Disaster Appeal Report.

News and Stories

Salvation Army ready to respond in fire-affected areas

Salvation Army ready to respond in fire-affected areas

20 October 2013

The Salvation Army Emergency Services is on stand-by and ready to assist in fire-affected areas across New South Wales today, with the weath...

Read more
Salvation Army prepares for new bushfire evacuations

Salvation Army prepares for new bushfire evacuations

20 October 2013

The Salvation Armys Hawkesbury Emergency Service Teams are preparing for an influx of bushfire-affected residents to arrive at the North Ric...

Read more
The Salvos continue to support fire-fighters and those affected by bushfires in NSW

The Salvos continue to support fire-fighters and those affected by bushfires in NSW

19 October 2013

While many Salvation Army Emergency Service crews have been stood-down as evacuation centres close and people are allowed back to their home...

Read more
NSW Bushfire Update

NSW Bushfire Update

18 October 2013

Read The Salvation Armys NSW Bushfire update. ...

Read more
2011 Qld Flood Report: 12 months on

2011 Qld Flood Report: 12 months on

1 February 2012

This report looks at the ongoing response of The Salvation Army to the 2011 Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi, 12 months after the disaster...

Read more
Queensland floods: Standing together for the long haul

Queensland floods: Standing together for the long haul

30 June 2011

The Salvation Army recognises that it will take many Queenslanders years to recover from the enormity of the natural disasters that hit the ...

Read more
2011 Qld Flood Report: 6 months on

2011 Qld Flood Report: 6 months on

26 June 2011

This report looks at the ongoing response of The Salvation Army to the 2011 Queensland floods and Cyclone Yasi, 6 months after the disaster....

Read more
January 2011 - Unprecedented Flood Crisis in Australia (Qld, NSW, Vic)

January 2011 - Unprecedented Flood Crisis in Australia (Qld, NSW, Vic)

14 February 2011

As the immediate emergency response of feeding and housing people affected by floods concludes, The Salvation Army now has staff and centres...

Read more

February 2011 - Cyclone Yasi 10/02/2011

10 February 2011

Salvation Army emergency services teams responded immediately in the aftermath of tropical cyclone Yasi which lashed the far northeast coast...

Read more
2011 Queensland Floods - Update 30/1/2011

2011 Queensland Floods - Update 30/1/2011

30 January 2011

As part of The Salvation Army Flood Relief response, The Salvation Army are now preparing to invite people whose homes have been affected by...

Read more

Previous 1 ... 11 12 13 14 Next

  • The Facebook logo
  • The X logo
  • The Youtube logo
  • The Instagram logo
  • The LinkedIn logo

The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders past, present and future.

We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.

Five Diversity and Inclusion logos

The Salvation Army is an international movement. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name with love and without discrimination.

test.salvos.org.au

13 SALVOS (13 72 58)

Gifts of $2 or more to the social work of The Salvation Army in Australia are tax deductible.Details and ABNs

Subscribe to our mailing list
Hope where it's needed most

Top