Disaster assistance for Redlands Coast residents

Redland City Mayor and chair of the Redland Local Disaster Management Group Karen Williams has requested the State Department of Communities activate the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme (PHAS) for Redlands Coast residents who may need assistance during the continuing severe weather event.

Cr Williams said that while PHAS assistance had yet to be activated for Redland City, Council had requested that this now be done.

“Already there have been homes impacted and a small number of residents evacuated from their flooded properties, so we want to ensure there is assistance for these and any other hardship cases that emerge as a result of this extraordinary rain event,” Cr Williams said.

“Typically, this scheme is triggered when large areas of residential properties are impacted and left without power or clean water but we want all hardship cases to be assessed on their merits as soon as they arise and immediate PHAS activation for Redland City will facilitate this.”

Cr Williams said residents could also apply for an Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) through Centrelink which provided support to people through the hard times in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.

This is a non-means tested payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child who has been adversely affected. Information on ADGRP eligibility and how to apply is available at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au