Floods sinking feeling

By Bridget Cook
MANY Casey residents are still feeling the effects of the floods that caused havoc in the city almost two months ago.
Hampton Park resident Leisha Workman has been living in a caravan out the front of her unit since the floods, and her insurance company say it will be at least four months before they start to rebuild it.
Ms Workman said her neighbours were also still stuck in a caravan, but faced a more bleak future as they didn’t have insurance.
She said her unit and belongings were almost completely destroyed during the deluge, when about 900 millimetres of water entered her home.
She said while at the time it was scary, the burden it has now caused was worse.
“It has basically put my life on hold,” she said.
“I have two grandchildren who love to come and visit nanna all the time. “Our sewerage burst in the backyard during the floods, so they can’t play out there, they can’t play in my home and my caravan is too small.”
Ms Workman’s brother, son and partner, who all lived in the unit, have found alternative accommodation since the floods.
“I’ve got three dogs, so I have to stay home with the dogs,” she said.
Ms Workman said her situation was not unique, with many other residents in the area still suffering.
Wanting to help those badly affected, member of the Hampton Park Community Renewal committee Michele Halsall has been assisting local residents with their clean-up efforts.
The community-minded woman has also been door-knocking and also organised a community information session in a bid to help people find out about the grants and funding available to them. She also set up the ‘Casey Floods Feb 2011’ Facebook page to assist people with necessary information about flood recovery, including the dangers of mould.
Ms Halsall said she wanted to help because she simply saw the need for it.
“So many people don’t know about the grants available to them,” she said.
“Hampton Park is such a multicultural community, and some of the people don’t even speak English let alone know about their entitlements.”
Mr Halsall said she had been amazed by how many people were still suffering when she went door-knocking around the area.
“I met people living in caravans and people who had only just started cleaning out their homes,” she said.
Mr Halsall said people needed to aware of what they were entitled to, including counselling to help move on from the traumatising experience.
For more information on grants and counselling call City of Casey Emergency Recovery Officer Janine Nolan on 9705 5200.