Great community support sees all evacuation centres receive necessary supplies

The North Richmond Evacuation Centre was overwhelmed with the number of people needing to be temporarily housed and supported this past week.

Cr Richards along with volunteers and members of the community have come together to lend a hand any way that they can.

After deciding to pull in and see if she could lend a hand on Saturday at the centre Cr Richards could see the overwhelming number of people that needed assistance and housing, with more expected as the flood water rose.

She and her partner, longtime resident Matthew Bennett, began to organise with people and businesses throughout the Hawkesbury community west of the river, to find temporary accommodation for the evacuees.

Mr Bennett got a hold of the people at Merroo Christian Centre Kurrajong who could house some people.

After clearing it with the staff and higher-ups at the evacuation centre, people were ready to make the move.

"We did have a transportation problem," said Cr Richards. "Many of the people we needed to move didn't have cars.

"So, Matt led a convoy of six to eight cars up to Merroo at about 9-10pm at night.

"When they arrived he helped everyone find their rooms ... staff from Anglicare and Red Cross stayed the first night to monitor everyone."

Each room was equipped with two single beds, an ensuite, pillows and doonas.

Following a successful move and relocation, Cr Richards visited Merimoo and found that the Salvation Army volunteers were low on food and drink for the evacuees, with more people expected to be arriving soon after.

Cr Richards put out a call on Facebook on Monday for people west of the river to provide what they could to the evacuation centre's, mainly needing fruit, vegetables and milk.

The post received a great response with loads of local producers and suppliers coming to the aid of the centres.

"I knew we could do this as a community and it was great too see people come to the rescue immediately," Cr Richards said.

"It is absolutely astonishing. I have spent today (Tuesday) picking up produce from farmers and suppliers to drop off at the centres.

"When I arrived to deliver everything, I was told that they do not need anymore and that they cannot store anymore than what they have.

"They are overwhelmed and so happy with our brilliant community."

One community member who amazed Cr Richards with his immediate response was Michael Sperling who said to her within a half hour of her call out: "I'm going to go down to Merroo from Bilpin at 6pm with milk. Happy to collect more and take down the hill. Anyone with supplies I'll be at Bilpin Post Office at 6pm in a lodge ute. Can drop by Tutti Frutti bit after 6pm if this helps. Anyone else with supplies I'll load up at the post office in 30 minutes".

"He wasn't the only one," said Cr Richards. "So many people met him to give him produce when he went to the post office and Tutti Fruitti. It was amazing to see."

Cr Richards thanked some of the key people involved with the whole operation, including:

Cr Richards said she was so proud of the community's response during such a difficult time.

"It's a real crisis for people and its amazing to see how our community has responded," she said.