What led to the occurrence of the Lismore and Northern River floods in 2022?
The flooding in was a result of the region experiencing an extended period of above-average rainfall due to the La Niña weather pattern. The continuous rainfall saturated the catchment areas and floodplains of the Northern Rivers, including Lismore and surroundings, and then the entire Australia Nation.

How many people died in 2022 floods?
Date 23 February 2022 – 7 April 2022
Location South East Queensland, Wide Bay–Burnett, the Northern Rivers, Central Coast and Sydney
Deaths 27, 1 missing
Property damage A$2.5 billion in Queensland alone A$4.8 billion

As I answered the phone, a desperate voice cried out, "Kellie, do you have any spare clothes? We have a lady here who's soaked and just arrived after spending the entire night on the roof, waiting to be rescued."

Swiftly, I gathered all the clothes I could spare and hurried back to the club where my husband, Dave, and I operate our brick and mortar cleaning business seven days a week.

Once we got the lady changed into dry clothes, a sense of urgency filled the air. Even the staff, caught off guard, shed tears of empathy, unsure of how to proceed as there was no established emergency action plan.

But within moments, everyone rallied together. Beds were transported from nearby holiday accommodations, calls were made to church organizations for clothing and essentials, and refreshments were prepared for those arriving.

In the midst of chaos, a spirit of compassion prevailed as we worked tirelessly to provide assistance and comfort to those in need.

After swiftly arranging mattresses to create beds, I rushed downstairs to the kitchen and quickly collected as much water as possible before the water mains were shut down due to contamination. Determined to secure more water, I hurried to the local stores, only to find the shelves completely devoid of both water and food supplies. The situation was dire, prompting me to devise alternative solutions to ensure a sufficient supply of clean water.

As a nurse, the only first aid kits and defibrillators available were those belonging to the club's staff. Despite the knowledge that our own home could be flooded if the water levels rose another 2 meters, Dave and I chose to remain at the recovery center day and night for two weeks. Coincidentally, we were in the process of moving to a new home at the time, and although our belongings were packed on the lower level, the floodwaters had already reached the roof of the new house. Now, we found ourselves caring for our future neighbors, who were also affected by the flood.

In that role, we took on the task of providing comfort and solace, offering a listening ear to those who had lost loved ones and assisting in the search for missing animals. Each day, we observed the river steadily rising, witnessing livestock struggling as they swam downstream, encountering obstacles such as trees and buildings in their path. It was a heartbreaking sight that reinforced our commitment to support those affected by the devastating floods.

The sight of our community coming together in unity was truly awe-inspiring. Chefs and the elderly joined forces, utilizing whatever ingredients they had to cook meals and provide nourishment. Churches generously supplied clothes to those in need, and those who were not directly affected by the disaster selflessly assisted in the recovery efforts. It was a beautiful display of solidarity, with everyone lending a helping hand and doing whatever they could to support one another during this challenging time.


Video Footage Of This Event
https://youtu.be/cFK9HxB3VRw