Last week, our area was struck by a massive storm. Winds of up to 135 km per hour and driving rain, more than a monthly average overnight. Most our neighbourhood and many others were without electricity and phone coverage for four or five days, with some areas hoping to have power restored today after ten days. In other places, there was flooding and some towns have been isolated with some roads still impassable. Today our local newspaper The Newcastle Herald published a special tribute to the "storm troopers" - emergency services and volunteers who are still working day and night to try to put communities back together. I know that this localised disaster seems insignificant next to the earthquake in Nepal, but here are the numbers which make it real for those who are suffering in our own community. These are some of the storm statistics as published: - 7 fatalities - 90 rescues - 250,000 calls to Ausgrid (electricity) - 5200 calls to Sate Emergency ...
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