Aftermath

[katiefoolery]

So now we deal with the aftermath, I guess.  We look after the thousands of homeless; we hold out hopes for those still missing; we console those who lost loved ones, family, friends, pets, livelihoods and houses.

And we completely fail to take in the magnitude of this disaster.  It is a disaster - officially, Australia's worst natural disaster in the history of European settlement.  One hundred and seventy-three people are dead.  Many more are missing.  Almost one thousand properties are completely destroyed and it's estimated that over five thousand people are homeless and living in emergency relief centres - in schools and town halls, where they share their space with people in the same situation and where the air is filled with grief and hope and desperation.

In my safe little place, I find myself grateful for everything.  Last night, after I went for a run, I was grateful for the fact that I had a shower, shampoo, soap... that I had a house in which to keep all of these things.  I'm grateful for feeling cold.  I'm grateful that I've been able to brush my teeth every day and wear a different set of clothes.

And I keep relating it to me, which is probably the most selfish thing of all.  But I can't help it.  When my home town came on the news, the reporter said something like "And the worst hit area was Steels Creek Road".  Well, guess which road I used to live on? It’s a long a beautiful road, leading from the edge of town right into genuine bush – isolation and towering gums, a road with crumbling edges, where trees crowd up against you as you travel along it. I was the first stop on the bus route and I spent six years watching the trees go past on the hour-long trip to school. It’s surely blackened and ruined now.

Almost lifeless.

The Age printed a map this morning, which I scanned.  It shows the areas burnt out by the fire (and the number of people killed, which is still hard to take in).  There's another of those handy arrows, pointing pretty much directly at the place where you could expect to find the house in which I grew up.  I hope it's just the land that's been burnt there.  I hope the house is still standing and that the people who live there now are OK.

The Age has a section dedicated to the bushfires here, but here are a few articles that are significant for me: Skyline Road’s Panorama of Obliteration (Skyline Road runs parallel with the road I used to live on); Bushfire Recovery (photos of the aftermath, many from the road I lived on); I Now Understand the word “Firestorm" (quite a moving survivor’s story; a little graphic, though – be warned).

And I also have a little gallery of pictures – some taken from The Age website and some from a family friend who still lives in Yarra Glen. I want to know if my ugly old town’s OK. I want to know that people still have homes there – that they’re going to stay, no matter what. I want to know if there’s hope amidst the misery of the aftermath.

Then I have to ask, What can you do for people who’ve lost everything? I guess the answer to that is: everything. That’s pretty much what you need if you have no house, no clothes, no nothing. The Red Cross is running an appeal and are asking people to be patient when it comes to donating blood. They can only deal with so many people at once. The Salvation Army is also taking donations for the victims.

And people are finding their own ways to contribute. mawaridi, for instance, is donating all proceeds from her Etsy store to the appeal.

As for me, I still haven’t worked out what I want to do. All I know is that I want to do something. Sure, I’ll be going through my house this weekend and donating every single thing I don’t really need. I’m going to try to get over my squeamishness and donate blood. And I’d give money, but it doesn’t seem like enough. Although money’s very helpful, obviously, I just want to give something more.

I want to do something more.

Comments

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

Jesus.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I know. And it's still burning. And there's talk of worse to come if two of the fires meet up and have a jolly little party together. :|

[miska-maz.livejournal.com]

could you not volunteer in some way? that might make you feel like you are doing more? whether it be helping organise the good donated or in one of the refuge homes? *many hugs*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it might but I keep hearing that there are almost too many volunteers or they can't take you without training. Still, something might come up later on that I can help with.

[miska-maz.livejournal.com]

yes cos it will be in a few months time that they will need the help most. because (as horrible as it sounds) most people will forget/get back to their own things....

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Katie, I haven't been able to read much about it though my heart of course goes out to all those effected (which is a huge number of people, geesh). But do they know how the fires got started? I had no idea they were here, there, here then there and oh over there too. I'm glad you posted the map. I am usually on my toes re: California's fire because BNSF Rwy has rail there--any time there is a natural disaster, I get rather busy with providing maps. Shudder. Fire is just so...terribly frightening. Not that hurricanes, floods, earthquakes aren't (okay those may be worse) but I fear fire like so many do, far more than all the others combined.

Glad you are safe. Hugs.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

They were almost certainly deliberately lit.

Hope whoever that was runs and hides because there's an angry mob with his name on it.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, that makes me sick. When I looked at the map, and saw how spread-out they were, I suspected (based on the California fires most recently).

Just GROWL.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

There's evidence that deliberate relighting was going on too.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

And now we get the news that people are looting the burnt-out properties. I just can't comprehend that. How sick can people be?

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

errrrrgh

humanity needs poking with a stick

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Some of the fires were due to the extreme conditions - even in my own lawn, the grass is so dry it actually breaks when I walk across it. But, as others have said, some of them were deliberately lit. It's almost impossible to comprehend that, just as I can't comprehend the actions of people who are looting the burnt-out houses. There are some sick people out there.

The map really put it into perspective for me, too - especially the way the grey burnt-out area continues all along that road. I've since found out that my old house escaped, which made me happy. It was a great house to grow up in (my Dad designed it himself) and I'm just glad the people who live in it now are safe and are about to continue enjoying it.

[arctic-firefox.livejournal.com]

I donated some money to Wildlife Victoria - they lost two of their shelters in the fires and are struggling to deal with the influx of wild animals. They are also being overlooked, as pretty much all the money the government gives will go straight to the people affected. Fair enough, but the homes of a lot of wildlife were also destroyed, so I felt they needed some support as well.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

You just don't hear much about the wildlife - probably because the human death toll is horrible enough on its own. But I can't stop thinking about it - pets, livestock, native animals... they've all been affected just as badly. One of the stories talked of birds literally falling out of the air, because they couldn't even fly fast enough to escape the plains. It's awful. :(

[vegetachik.livejournal.com]

Natural Disasters are truly horrible things. Throughout my life my family and I have always been able to avoid floods and tornadoes, while these things have always destroyed the towns around us. Just last summer a flood destroyed the homes of almost every person in the town my parents lived in...they were luckily enough to be away from the flood plain.

I've been watching the damage around you on the news...and it's so depressing I can't even imagine everything that people have lost. I think it's great that you want to do something. So many people just say, "it doesn't affect me," but I think it's wonderful that you want to give as much as you can. Nothing is scarier than when it's actually happening so close to where you live.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

The way the fires swept through, it's a miracle that anyone survived. So I imagine all these people are just grateful to have their lives... yet then they have to cope with the fact that they have little else. That entire towns have to be pretty much re-built. And the amazing thing is that people from Kinglake - one of the worst affected areas - are mostly determined to re-build and carry on with their lives. I think that's incredible.

We used to have bad floods, too - not bad enough to damage houses, but bad enough to cut at least one of the roads out of town. I live with an unreasoning fear of flood plains, now. It swear, I can spot them from miles off. "Nope, that's a flood plain - I wouldn't build there..."

[purpletigress.livejournal.com]

I just heard on 9am that Coles is donating all profits from Friday's sales to the relief. It's a small thing, but we've all got to buy groceries. Buying them on Friday from Coles makes good sense.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Yep - and Woolworths/Safeway is doing the same thing the Friday after. Stores are going to be packed full of people.

[purpletigress.livejournal.com]

That's such awesome news. I only wish they chose a weekend day ... Steve and I always shop on weekends because it's so late by the time he gets home from work, and I need him to help me carry all the groceries and ensure I get all those things he forgets to write on the list. It looks like we'll just have to be some of those near midnight shoppers ;-)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Ack, it turns out the Safeway/Woolworths one is for farmers affected by the drought... but that's still worth supporting.

[stefeny.livejournal.com]

I am with you on the whole donating blood thing - I'm wroking my way up to it.

I was encouraged last night by the fact that the local vinnies bin was too full. I had to make an executive decision as to which bags to leave on the ground outside it - fortunately I only took the bags I could carry. Tonight, I'll go prepared with more plastic bags to protect what I take.

I think the wanting to do more thing comes form our desire just to go and hug all the people affected. I mean we're a developed country - isn't there something that we should be able to do?

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I've totally made the decision to donate blood... I just don't know how I'm going to work up the courage to actually do it. It's going to happen, though.

Almost every time I go past a Salvation Army store, I see people outside with cars full of goods, dragging bag after bag into the store - it's amazing. It's almost reached the point where I'm thinking they must have enough of the stuff people need; maybe it's time to start donating the stuff they don't technically need, like mp3 players or novelty ice cube trays or something.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

donate a novelty ice cube tray to me. I totally don't have one of those and I now realise I have a big gaping hole in my life.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I am too, too tempted to find one and send it to you now. Heheh.

[flippyfrog.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on that. I always feel better with the physical help rather than the distant giving. You can put up your hand to help, and see what happens. Maybe working in the catering or packaging care boxes and the like.

My general understanding of charity groups in crisis support mode is that when the crisis is on, they don't take new people on because you need the training to help and they don't have the time then, but it doesn't hurt to still raise your hand. There is a beauty in being able to bleed out the pain by using your hands to do something, even if it is small. I'm craving that right now.

Maybe offer to adopt a homeless cat for a while, until their owners are resettled. Or go to Beechworth and help with the clean up. I really enjoyed that when the last big Sydney fires nearly destroyed my cousin's house. I was really young, but even back then, doing something as simple as helping them wipe the ash off their walls was better than sitting back and listening to the horror over and over again.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Those are all great ideas - I love them. I don't think Pickle would go for the adopt-a-cat one, though - she'd probably beat it up, after the trauma the poor thing's already gone through. I shall investigate things a bit more on the weekend, when I'm not so tired. :|

[flippyfrog.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Pickle probably would do that, the cutie that she is. Frightened a fire-survivour would take her limelight. She might not be able to compete even with all her fluffiness.

*huggles* Sleep is good. I'm having a day of it, I've decided. Cept there's some English bird that won't stop twittering outside my window. Why didn't it just freeze in the snow?

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

I gave money - I'm giving blood tomorrow.

I'm not sure there is much else TOO do. Red Cross etc won't take extra volunteers right now as you'll need training and they don't have time.

RSPCA has an offer to assit form here http://www.rspcavic.org/Forms/BushfireSubmitHelp/Helpsubmit.asp. I suspect that they'll have animals that will need rehoming. That's something you can practically assist with.

IN the end, I think we all feel impotent and useless after something like this. How can you not? In the scale of this - there are no words.
*hugs* We'll get through it.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Tell me that giving blood isn't that scary. Because it feels scary and icky and I'm going to do it but the thought of it kinda makes me feel ill.

That's a great idea about the RSPCA. I'll look into that.

*hugs back*

The whole county is being awesome in response to this - we'll definitely get everyone through it. :)

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

It's a sting. Just a sting. Exactly the same as giving blood.

IF you tell them you're squeemish they'll throw a towel over the catheter so you can't see the blood coming out. (They always do that for me cos I am a total woss with my own blood).

You'll be a bit light -headed afterwards. It's awesome. You get drunk easily with only one glass!

AND AND AND you get lollies and biscuits and soup and juice! And the sweet satisfaction that your donation can help as many as eight people! Hooray!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

OK, I think I could deal with that. And I totally don't want to see the blood coming out AT ALL.

I figure it won't be the most fun experience ever, but at least I get to choose to do it; no-one got to choose to be caught up in the bushfires or not.

Also, I may even find out what blood type I am. That might be useful to know.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

I don't know how people can call it a natural disaster when there are human murderers involved.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I know - that's one of the worst elements of it. Some of them were genuinely just a result of the horrdenous conditions, but the others...

[rilla06.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, the lolly shop. We always stopped there when driving through Marysville.

[seagull-fred.livejournal.com]

I feel like it's wrong to giggle, but Rilla, the same thought entered my head when I heard about Beechworth being threatened... 'Oh, crap, the lolly shop! The cordial factory!!'

Kind of took me a moment to actually catch up with my own thoughts on that one...

Katie, a man from the Red Cross came along to accept a money donation from our school today, and he gave a little speech and answered the students' questions. One thing he did say was that even though people generously donate food and clothing and blankets, the Red Cross actually prefer that people donate money instead, because then it allows the people affected to choose their own new belongings that they like, rather than taking what is handed out.

And secondly (which I had never considered before) is that if people are given money, then they can possibly go and spend it at their local store - whose owners might also be recovering from the loss of the fires. That means the local businesses and economy can sustain itself.

He also assured us that 100% of our donations would go to the people affected, and not lost in administration costs.

So I guess I'm just saying that even though monetary donations feel like a heartless, helpless offering, the people who receive it will still feel the positive effects of it, even if you're not physically there with them.

*hugs*

(sorry it's such a lengthy comment...!)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Well, the Beechworth sweet shop is pretty impressive - it's understandable.

And thanks for the long comment - it was very re-assuring. It just feels like it's not enough, but I guess it really is helping.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

Yes that.

And they get to actually go out and rebuild themselves so they heal that way too instead of having everything handed to them.

Go the Red Cross. Sensible folks them.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I still can't believe it's gone. I can barely imagine how horrible it is, but I do hope the people of Marysville find the strength to re-build their beautiful little town.

[erinmacha.livejournal.com]

I would agree with the donation of blood/plasma. *nods* Sorry you are squeamish of such things, but I would say that is more precious than money in a time like this.

Have cookies and juice afterward. Pretend it's a treat for doing something wonderful (rather than replenishing your sugar levels). *hugs*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Even the thought of it makes me feel kinda ill, but I know it's needed badly. And not just at times like these - at all times. Just... Bleh.

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

*huge hugs* Egads.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) We still don't know the worst of it - we keep getting told to brace for worse news. :|

[mistressmarilyn.livejournal.com]

This is horrific. Our thoughts are with you and the people of Australia. There's nothing comforting enough to say in the wake of this disaster.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your thoughts. :) I think it means a lot that the rest of the world cares.

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

I'm just horrified by this disaster and am sending every good thought to the entire country. Australia is in my prayers and thoughts...

I hope people will continue to be generous with donations, in spite of difficult financial times.

(hugs)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thank-you. :) People have been amazingly generous - over $40,000,000 has been raised already. And we keep seeing images of the news of warehouses full of clothes and things that have been donated by businesses - it's amazing.

[lysan.livejournal.com]

Jesus. I'm so glad you and you're family are safe. *hugs* There's really nothing more I can say...*hugs*

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) You really don't realise how lucky you are until you're made aware of just how easy it is to lose absolutely everything, including your life. Now we can finally smell the smoke in the suburbs and city - the fires are still burning - and I think that just makes us all more aware of how bad things still are for so many people.