Flood emergencies and safety

• Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters.  If you must enter floodwaters, wear solid shoes, not thongs or bare feet and check the depth with a stick
• Stay away from drains and water that is more than knee height
• Floodwaters may contain sewage.  Take appropriate precautions when cleaning up floodwater
• Stay away from fallen power lines – electrical current passes easily through water
• If your car stalls in rising floodwater, abandon it immediately and take shelter
• Be aware than animals such as spiders and snakes may enter your house during a flood to try and find dryer ground
• Wait for rescuers to come for you, avoid swimming in floodwaters
• If outdoors, climb to higher ground and stay there
• Keep listening to your local ABC radio station for updates
• Keep in contact with your neighbours where possible
• Be prepared to leave early if necessary
• For a flood or storm emergency contact the SES on 132 500
  
• When returning to your home following a flood, take precautions to reduce the chance of illness, disease or injury. 
  • Victorian Governments Flood Hazards Information Sheets
  • Tips for managing waste after a flood
  • Protect yourself from health risks of flood water
• Keep power off in your home until a licensed electrician has inspected your system to ensure it is safe

Agriculture Victoria has information and resources for growers recovering from a flood event at Recovery from flood – horticulture crops | Orchard management | Fruit and nuts | Crops and horticulture | Agriculture Victoria

More information and further supports are available on the Agriculture Victoria website at  Resource directory | Resources | Support and resources | Agriculture Victoria

• You can call the SES on 132 500 from anywhere in Victoria for flood and storm emergency assistance
• Centrelink on 132 850 for information on social security payments and services
• Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 650 172 for Crisis and Emergency assistance
• Salvation Army on 13 72 58 for Disaster Recovery Assistance
• VicRoads on 131 870 for traffic hazards and road closures for your area

Before:

• Check your household emergency plan: Refer to the SES website FloodSafe
• If it is safe to do so, check your gutters, down pipes and drains are not blocked.

During:

• Stay indoors and away from windows
• If outdoors, shelter away from drains and gutters
• Be prepared for power outages
• Floodwater is dangerous – never drive, walk or ride through floodwater
• Floodwater can be toxic – never play or swim in floodwater
• For any life threatening emergencies call 000
• For non-life-threatening emergencies call the SES on 132 500

After:

• Discourage people, especially children, from playing around high water and storm drains
• Check your home and property for damage
• Keep clear of damaged buildings, power lines and trees
• Be aware of road hazards, such as floodwater, debris and damaged roads
• Do not drive through affected areas unless it is absolutely necessary

Flood Impacted Irrigated Farming Properties

Council is providing assistance with rates payments to support eligible irrigated farming properties impacted by the recent flooding events. Click here to submit an enquiry 

Farm Household Allowance

Farmers in financial hardship may be eligible for the Australian Government’s Farm Household Allowance (FHA), a fortnightly payment available for up to 4 years in a specific 10-year period.

Concessional loans

Farmers may be able to access low-interest loans through the Australian Government’s Regional Investment Corporation (RIC). A RIC loan is a partnership between the farm business, a commercial lender and the Regional Investment Corporation. Available loans

Rural Aid - Counselling for farmers and their families

Free of charge, confidential support for farmers, family members and employees. You can connect over the phone or in person with 4 counsellors available across Victoria. 
Detailed breakdown of services is not publicly available. Call 1300 175 594 or visit www.ruralaid.org.au/counsellors for more information.

National Centre for Farmer Health

National Centre for Farmer Health supports primary producers whose properties, livestock or crops have been damaged or lost through the delivery of initiatives to boost farmer mental health and wellbeing.

See farmerhealth.org.au/ for more details.

Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) Wellbeing Counsellors

Wellbeing counsellors are available to visit rain-affected producers and their families at their property or over the phone to assist with mental health and wellbeing issues.

Mental health and wellbeing support is available for farmers, families and workers.

Call the RFCS on 1300 771 741.

One-on-one Farm Advisory Service

Farm business advisors, soil specialists, water experts.

Any Victorian farmer can book a freeone-on-one session with a specialist of their choice from Agriculture Victoria’s panel of farm advisors.

These includefarm business advisors, livestock nutritionists, soil and pasture specialists and water experts.

More information is available on the Help with farm management decisions page of the Agriculture Victoria website.

Technical Support

Agriculture Victoria is delivering technical information to support farm business recovery on topics such as:

• irrigation and horticulture system rehabilitation
• soil erosion management
• land management
• farm mapping and planning
• water quality
• weed management.

Farmers seeking agriculture recovery assistance can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186.

Mallee Family Care: Free locally-based financial counselling service, offering confidential advice, information, support and advocacy for people experiencing financial difficulty, including those in immediate crisis as a result of the flood event.
Appointments with financial counsellors can be made by calling (03) 5023 5966 or emailing mfc@malleefamilycare.com.au.

Support is available in Mildura and the wider Mallee region, including providing short and long-term solutions, determining ongoing needs and referrals to other support services.

Financial Counselling Victoria: In person or phone-based support for sole traders, business partners, personal and family finances and dealing with financial hardship and debt. Visit https://fcvic.org.au/find-a-financial-counsellor/ to find your nearest service.

Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) Victoria West: Rural Financial Counselling Services (Vic West) are available to assist primary producers to complete applications for grants. Visit https://RFCSVictoriaWest.com.au or call 1300 735 578.

National Debt Helpline: For immediate assistance and/or to be connected to your nearest service contact 1800 007 007.

Offering free and confidential legal advice and information, referrals and case work.

Support is available in Mildura and the wider Mallee region by calling 1800 243 002 (free call), emailing your details to clc@malleefamilycare.com.au or by visiting Mallee Family Care’s main office at 122 Ninth Street Mildura. 

For more information visit Mallee Family Care - Mallee Family Care Community Legal Centre

National support line staffed by specialist small business financial counsellors – immediate assistance and referral for ongoing support. Call 1800 413 828.

Call the Disaster Legal Help Victoria hotline on 1800 113 432 for free information and advice relating to floods, including:

• Tenancy
• Insurance
• Property damage
• Parenting arrangements
• Bail

Disaster Legal Help Victoria can also assist you in finding a lawyer.

Available weekdays 8am-6pm. 

The Dept. of Families, Fairness & Housing (DFFH) Utility Relief Grant Scheme provides relief for paying an overdue utility bill (gas, electricity, water) due to temporary crisis. 

You can apply for the grant if you are an eligible concession card holder (Pensioner, Health Care, VA Gold), or part of a low-income household. The grant is applicable for both renters and homeowners.

You must show that you have no way of paying the account without assistance, and meet one of the following criteria:

• You or someone in your household is experiencing family violence
• Recent decrease in income (eg. lost job)
• High unexpected cost for essential items
• Cost of shelter is more than 30% of household income

If you are eligible, you can receive a maximum of $650 on each utility type within a 2-year period (or $1300 for households with a single source of energy eg. electricity only). Applications are made directly to utility company/supplier.

For more information visit: services.dffh.vic.gov.au/utility-relief-grant-scheme or call 1800 658 521