ROCHESTER CFA captain Luke Warren was away on holiday when floodwaters swept through town last October.<\/p>\n
Now, like many in the community, he\u2019s still dealing with the aftermath both as a resident, and emergency service member.<\/p>\n
Mr Warren is just one of many people still living in temporary housing, something he said he isn\u2019t enjoying.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiving in a caravan at the moment, which is wearing a bit thin, to be honest,\u201d he said. \u201cI am about six-foot-three and 130 kilograms, so I am not really built for caravans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some insurance companies aren\u2019t making it easy for people to get back in their homes Mr Warren said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the difficult part for us, with our insurance we can\u2019t get a straight answer,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s such a slow process.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no dispute about whether we are insured or not, it\u2019s about trying to get tradies and get materials as well as the insurance company dragging their heels.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Warren said Rochester was still a community in pain.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s up and down around town at the moment,\u201d he said. \u201cSome days are good days; some days aren\u2019t so good.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the community has synched up, it\u2019s an interesting phenomenon to witness.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne day there may be some real positivity going through town and a few days later we are all a bit glum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Warren said being out of town when the floods struck was difficult, not knowing what had happened to his home as well as not being there to fulfill his role as CFA leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2011 our house didn\u2019t flood, so we were reasonably confident that it wouldn\u2019t flood this time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were anxious to get back to find out though, and then we got back we discovered our house had been impacted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was tough as the captain of the fire brigade. I am the leader of the brigade and there was a bit of, survivor\u2019s guilt even, I\u2019d say because I wasn\u2019t there at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Mr Warren said one positive to come out of the event and subsequent aftermath was seeing the emergency services community getting behind the town.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just amazing to see the support we got from other CFA teams,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had brigades come out of metro Melbourne, as well as members from Bendigo and even Casterton.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ROCHESTER CFA captain Luke Warren was away on holiday when floodwaters swept through town last October. Now, like many in the community, he\u2019s still dealing with the aftermath both as a resident, and emergency service member. Mr Warren is just one of many people still living in temporary housing, something he said he isn\u2019t enjoying. […]<\/p>\n