Massive clean-up efforts are under way for flood-affected communities after record-breaking water levels last week across New South Wales.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00There's a really big push on today with the weekend with volunteers coming from throughout
00:06the region and even interstate to join what's been called the mud muster.
00:11And what the mud muster is they combine the efforts of the SES, who are all the people
00:15behind me in orange trousers, with people who have become SES volunteers for the day
00:21who have got just the orange safety vests on.
00:23So they've all had a proper briefing in how to operate safely in a flood zone, which means
00:29that they will be much safer out there where they're working, cleaning out homes.
00:34So we're in Wingham at the moment, this morning the action was also in Taree.
00:38There's a lot of these mud muster teams around the area and of course there's debris everywhere.
00:42This flood debris, it's important to remember, was once someone's treasured possessions.
00:47And the clean up will not just take one weekend of huge effort, it's going to take months.
00:54And organisers of the mud muster hope that the volunteers who've come out today will be
00:59able to help them into the future.
01:01Celina?
01:02Clare, those volunteers, they must have given the local community a much needed real boost.
01:08Yeah, we've spoken to some of the flood victims today and they are very bruised and battered.
01:15Not many are keen to talk to media as you can imagine.
01:18But they are so grateful to be living in a community where people like these from all walks of life,
01:23you've got tradies through to retirees, are willing to come out, put on gloves and gumboots
01:28and get in and clean out their homes.
01:30So the spirit's actually quite nice.
01:32We've got some obviously very damaged people who are grieving the loss of animals, possessions,
01:38photos and their homes in some cases.
01:42But we've also got this lovely community spirit which is buoying them up and they're just so grateful.
01:47Thank you so much.
01:48Thank you very much.
01:51Yes, thank you.
01:52Through you.
01:56Thanks.
01:58See you again.