Disaster deadline: Who will save us?
Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade.
The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years.
While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly.
We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation.
When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it.
We clean up, rebuild and move on.
But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take.
We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe.
But who will save us?
Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us?
Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years.
We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do.
We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies.
And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories.
Send your story to donnasharpe@austcommunitymedia.com.au or jackie.meyers@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years.
Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade.
The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years.
While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly.
We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation.
When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it.
We clean up, rebuild and move on.
But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take.
We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe.
But who will save us?
Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us?
Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years.
We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do.
We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies.
And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories.
Send your story to donnasharpe@austcommunitymedia.com.au or jackie.meyers@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years.
Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade.
The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years.
While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly.
We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation.
When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it.
We clean up, rebuild and move on.
But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take.
We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe.
But who will save us?
Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us?
Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years.
We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do.
We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies.
And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories.
Send your story to donnasharpe@austcommunitymedia.com.au or jackie.meyers@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years.
Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade.
The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years.
While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly.
We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation.
When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it.
We clean up, rebuild and move on.
But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take.
We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe.
But who will save us?
Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us?
Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years.
We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do.
We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies.
And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories.
Send your story to donnasharpe@austcommunitymedia.com.au or jackie.meyers@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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The Advertiser
5 days ago
- The Advertiser
Disaster deadline: Who will save us?
Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years. Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade. The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly. We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation. When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it. We clean up, rebuild and move on. But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take. We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe. But who will save us? Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do. We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies. And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories. Send your story to donnasharpe@ or Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years. Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade. The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly. We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation. When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it. We clean up, rebuild and move on. But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take. We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe. But who will save us? Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do. We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies. And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories. Send your story to donnasharpe@ or Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years. Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade. The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly. We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation. When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it. We clean up, rebuild and move on. But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take. We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe. But who will save us? Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do. We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies. And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories. Send your story to donnasharpe@ or Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years. Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade. The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly. We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation. When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it. We clean up, rebuild and move on. But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take. We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe. But who will save us? Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do. We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies. And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories. Send your story to donnasharpe@ or
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