As unprecedented flooding inundates towns and leaves residents stranded in parts of New South Wales, local first responders have rescued hundreds of people from floodwaters and rooftops.
Volunteering Australia estimates more than 400,000 people volunteer as first responders around the nation. Around half of those volunteer in fire services and around 25,000 in state and territory emergency services. Thousands of additional “invisible” first responders help informally and spontaneously to support their communities before and after a disaster.
In a situation such as the current flooding in NSW, local first responders, many of whom are volunteers, face a difficult dilemma. How do they prioritise their commitment to their communities and the safety of the public while also protecting their own families and homes?
