Rochester residents start cleaning up in hopes of another deluge in a few days
Leanne Hansen’s house, just a few meters from the hotel, had water infiltration up to about 70 cm from the exterior, but remained dry on the inside.
She hugged her father, John Nicholson, crying over the enormity of the disaster.
Leanne Hansen’s home survived, but the town was badly damaged. Her father John Nicholson provides support.credit:Justin McManus
“I feel sorry for everyone who lost everything,” she said. “It’s going to be a big cleaning.”
Hansen, who works at a local primary school, said many people needed help.
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“There will be a lot of upset little kids,” she said. “We can care for each other. That’s all we can do.”
Some streets were mostly abandoned, ghostly quiet except for the occasional 4×4 driving through, sending waves out on either side.
In other parts of town, neighbors worked together to clean each other’s homes of mud and rip off soggy carpets.
Campaspe Shire Rochester District Councilman Paul German praised the community spirit of the town, but urged people to evacuate if heavy rain is expected over the next week and another evacuation alert is issued.
“I really hope people leave because it just adds a lot of effort to emergency services to rescue people who probably shouldn’t be there even if they thought they were safe,” he said. Told.
Jarman said the town has prepared as best it could for floods, but more rain meant it could just be a “hump” of the disaster.
Friends and family helping to clean Darcy and Hannah Taylor’s house.credit:Justin McManus
When Mick Hassell returned to his home, he found that the water had risen more than half a meter up his wall.
“I expected water through it,” he said. “But it’s nowhere near as bad.”
The floor of his three-bedroom home was covered in a thick, slippery layer of dirt, and Hassell hadn’t decided when to start cleaning it up.
“I think I’ll strip the carpet to expose the floorboards, so the floor doesn’t swell or do anything outrageous.”
He was grateful to have insurance and said other people had been hit harder.
“I don’t get the worst of it,” he said. “We are now in the recovery phase.”
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Ben Warren’s house on the other side of town had speculated that water may have seeped down to the floorboards below, but remained dry on the inside.
On Sunday morning, the house he was staying in while his girlfriend and children were evacuated was still surrounded by water.
“I’m here with my dog,” he said. “When the water runs low, I’ll get out of here.”
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Rochester residents start cleaning up in hopes of another deluge in a few days
Source link Rochester residents start cleaning up in hopes of another deluge in a few days
