State Emergency Service and Australian Defence Force personnel started conducting the assessments on Thursday, November 10.
Murray River Council chief executive Terry Dodds said although the assessments might seem hasty, it was vital that this first step of the flood recovery process commenced.
“Assessors will evaluate houses to see whether floodwater has gone over or under the floorboards, whether water went over the power points, whether their gas supply is sound and fit for purpose, whether their sewerage system is functioning and whether a property is able to be safely accessed,” Mr Dodds said.
“It’s not only an assessment for habitable dwellings, it’s for farms, roads, fences, stock watering systems, stock movement, grain harvesting, levee damage, and so on.
“It’s a huge job. We’re in a council that’s 12,000 square kilometres and half of it has been inundated with water.”
Only a small portion of Moama’s east is currently being assessed, but the assessment area will extend as more properties become accessible.
For the assessment process to begin, floodwater has to have receded well outside the perimeters of the property.
The Moama Evacuation Centre will remain open until assessments can accurately represent the number of displaced residents.
To coincide with the damage assessments, Murray River Council has urged community members to fill out critical surveys so the council can present crucial data to governments and advocate for funding to assist with flood recovery.
Mr Dodds said the only way the community would be eligible for state or federal funding was if people in the community shared the extent to which they had been impacted or were going to be impacted.
“Flood recovery is going to take months and the quicker we get the economic recovery gain, the better it will be for the whole community,” he said.
To complete the 2022 business impact survey, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwTv2JfL4aoY3wCT2nyPhrvs8_dzYli0QzTL6f6BnHRgtdOQ/viewform
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Natural Disaster Damage Survey can be used to record damage to primary production and animals from natural disasters such as floods. To complete this survey, visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/emergency/community/primary-industries-natural-disaster-damage-survey
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