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Flood Survivor's Plea: SES Failed During Crisis
13 Jul
Summary
- Artist Kate Stroud's home flooded to neck-high levels.
- A civilian on a jet-ski rescued Stroud during the 2022 floods.
- Emergency services provided inaccurate information and were unreachable.
Artist Kate Stroud described her terrifying experience during the 2022 Lismore floods, where floodwaters reached a record height of 14.4 metres. Her home was inundated, with water rising to neck-high levels in her kitchen.
Stroud recounted receiving a misleading assurance of safety from the SES, only to find water breaching her home's floorboards within hours. Attempts to contact emergency services proved futile, as the SES line was reportedly turned off due to being overwhelmed.
A civilian rescuer on a jet-ski from Ballina eventually came to her aid. The incident left Stroud disillusioned with the perceived failure of emergency systems to provide reliable information and timely assistance during a catastrophic event.
