Were you impacted by the November 2022 flooding event?

A range of disaster assistance is available for communities impacted by the low-pressure system which travelled east over Australia, bringing heavy rainfall and slow moving downstream flows to many of South Australia’s towns along the River Murray, causing widespread and destructive flooding.

Helping Australians recover from devastating natural hazards is a national priority

From November 2022, a low-pressure system, which sat over majority of the east coast of Australia, resulted in widespread flooding around Alexandrina, Berri Barmera, Coorong, Karoonda East Murray, Loxton Waikerie, Mid Murray, Murray Bridge, and Renmark Paringa.

Already high rivers, creeks, and sodden catchments had little capacity to absorb the rain, which led to a widespread, slow moving flooding event in nine areas of South Australia. The footage of levees dividing main streets, farming areas and levees being inundated captured the nation’s attention.

Recovery from this disaster will take some time, and NEMA – in partnership with the SA Government – will continue to support impacted communities.

Supporting affected communities

The Australian Government supported the state-led emergency response, mainly through the provision of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and assets.

This ADF support included:

• search and rescue and evacuation missions; removing roadblocks;
• dropping food, water and medical supplies to people cut off by floodwaters, and
• aerial damage assessments.
   

The Australian Government also activated financial assistance in the form of the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA).

Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short-term income support payment to help people who have lost income as a direct result of the disaster.

• It is available in eight (8) Local Government Areas and one (1) Unincorporated Area of Alexandrina, Berri Barmera, Coorong, Karoonda East Murray, Loxton Waikerie, Mid Murray, Murray Bridge, Renmark Paringa, and the Unincorporated Area.
   

You can find out more about the DRA on the Services Australia website.
 

Support for South Australians in the affected areas includes:

• Personal hardship and distress assistance
• Counter disaster operations
• Property Assessment and Essential Services Reconnection
• Small Business Recovery Grants
• Primary Producer Recovery Grants
• Waste Management Program
• Blackwater assistance
• Legal Assistance
   

Further funding will also be available for a range of activities relating to flood mitigation and recovery for impacted councils, and for mentors for rural businesses and financial counselling support for families.

Detailed break-down of assistance:

South Australian River Murray flooding (15 November 2022 to 7 February 2023)

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE 

Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) 

Up to 13 weeks of income support payments to eligible employees and sole traders.  Equivalent assistance for New Zealand ‘non-protected’ special category visa (subclass 444) holders. 

Claims are open until 29 May 2023. Visit the Services Australia website to apply.

As of midnight 14 May, 242 DRA payments have been made, worth a total of $937,554

JOINT AUSTRALIAN AND SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE 

To find out what assistance is being provided by the South Australia Government, including under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, visit Recovery SA.

Personal and Financial Assistance (DRFA Category A)  Provides support and counselling services to people who are suffering personal hardship and distress as a direct result of the disaster.

Personal Hardship Grant (DRFA Category A) Grants of $400 per adult, and $140 per child, with a maximum of $1000 per family, may be made available. This assistance provides a one-off payment to individuals and families/couples to meet their immediate needs such as purchasing food, clothing and medical supplies.

Accommodation Grants (DRFA Category A)  Assistance provides up to two weeks (1-2 weeks) emergency accommodation for individuals and families unable to return to their homes (due to damage, road closures etc.). Additional financial support may be available for individuals and families unable to return to their homes more than two weeks (3-10 weeks) after the disaster.

Re-establishment Grants (DRFA Category A)  Assistance assists with the re-establishment of a principal place of residence by providing grants for essential household and personal effects. Grants may be up to a maximum of $10,000 per household (that is not insured) and are subject to income and asset testing.

Re-establishment Grants (Structural Repair) (DRFA Category A)  Assistance assists with the re-establishment of a principal place of residency by providing grants for structural repairs. Grants may be up to a maximum of $10,000 per household (that is not insured) and are subject to income and asset testing.

Assistance to State Agencies and Local Councils  (DRFA Category B)   Counter disaster operations This assistance helps state agencies and councils with the costs associated with delivering exceptional relief and recovery measures within impacted communities which go beyond the capacity of the state or local government. This may include activities to render damaged properties or threatened houses safe and habitable and certain activities such as sandbagging and the construction of temporary levees to prevent inundation of residential properties, and critical infrastructure assets.  Restoration of essential public assets Helps with the costs of restoring or repairing eligible essential public assets or infrastructure damaged as a direct result of a disaster. This assistance also covers emergency works, such as removing debris and temporary repairs, which are undertaken immediately after a disaster to enable an eligible asset to be operational.

Property Assessment and Essential Services Reconnection (DRFA Category C or D) $10 million to assess damage to primary residential properties including structural damage, electrical infrastructure and reconnection of services.

Recovery Grants for Small Business (DRFA Category C or D) Grants of up to $50,000 for small businesses impacted by the flooding to support recovery and reinstatement ($9.3 million)

Recovery Grants for Primary Producers DRFA Category C or D) Grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers impacted by the flooding to support recovery and reinstatement ($45.9 million)

Waste Management Program (DRFA Category C or D) $60 million for assessment of hazardous waste, including disposal, and other waste management activity.

Blackwater program (DRFA Category C or D) $800,000 to assist with clean-up of large scale fish kills.

Legal assistance (DRFA Category C or D) $250,000 for legal assistance for affected people and businesses

 

Further information

To find out what assistance is available from the SA Government, including Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, visit Recovery SA.