Essential food and medicine unable to be delivered today, Emergency crews to try again tomorrow

Emergency Services were unable to deliver resupply food and essential medicine to isolated residents in the Hodel area this afternoon due to unsafe conditions.

Burdekin Shire Council Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) Chair Lyn McLaughlin said Emergency Service crews would attempt to access the Hodel area, as well as two other identified resupply locations, again tomorrow.

“We have collected resupply orders for residents in Giru, Hodel, and Woodstock Giru Road, including the township of Woodstock,” Cr McLaughlin said.

“We will try to reach these communities by vehicle and flood boat, or where this is not possible, by helicopter.

“Unfortunately, our ability to access these isolated locations is completely dependent on weather conditions. The Burdekin LDMG is monitoring the weather, and we are hopeful that we will have enough of a window tomorrow to safely deliver these resupply items.”

The Burdekin LDMG publicised the possibility of resupply earlier this morning and distributed a Resupply for Isolated Properties brochure to every inquiry that was received. This brochure detailed the items which were and were not allowable for resupply.

As Emergency crews were unable to safely deliver the goods, the deadline for placing a resupply order with local supermarket or chemist outlets has been extended from 12pm noon to 12am midnight tonight.

Only essential medicine and non-perishable food for people who have been isolated for at least three days qualifies as being eligible for resupply. Under the Queensland resupply guidelines, non-essential items will not be delivered.

In accordance with the Resupply for Isolated Properties brochure, any person who has been isolated for more than three days and does not have sufficient essential food can place an online order with Woolworths before 12pm midnight. However residents are reminded that Woolworths does not open until 10am Sunday and if a window of opportunity to begin the delivery process becomes available, Emergency Services will commence the resupply process immediately.

The rostered chemist for Sunday is Ayr Amcal Chemist, open from 9am-12pm.