Rochester’s recovery effort far from over

THOUGH the water may have subsided and much of the mud and debris cleaned up, impacts of last year’s flooding in Rochester are still being felt.

Many homes and businesses were affected by floodwater to varying degrees with a large number of those still uninhabited or sitting vacant.

Staff from the Rochester Community House have taken on a role in supporting the community during the recovery, just as they did after the 2011 floods.

RCH co-ordinator Amanda Logie said the town is still struggling.

“Our community is broken, the houses are broken, the people are broken,” she said. “There is no sugar coating it, people are really struggling and it’s heartbreaking really.

“People really aren’t feeling very supported.”

Insurance companies are largely to blame for that feeling of lack of support said Ms Logie.

“People are having a lot of issues with their insurance,” she said.

“There is the occasional good news story but there is a lot of anger in the community because a lot of the insurance companies aren’t playing the game.”

Ms Logie said those who aren’t in Rochester don’t see the lasting impact the floods have had, and the event is quickly forgotten, she wants people to remember them, because their help is still needed.

“Do not forget us, this is a long, long process,” she said. “We have people who aren’t going to be in their houses for six months, 12 months or two years.

“We are going to need support, we are going to need people on the ground, we are going to need skilled volunteers as well as normal volunteers to come help us at certain times.

“It’s about not forgetting the Rochester community and keeping in mind that we are going to need help for a long time.”

Ms Logie said people who do come from out of town should talk a lasting look at the ongoing challenges of the community.

“Just drive slowly and have a look at the houses,” she said. “You can see straight through them into the backyard, because they have no walls, they are just shells.

“Things can look fine from the outside, but they are far from fine, and the people here are exactly the same.”