What we learned from Cyclone Alfred
After Cyclone Alfred, we reached out to our network to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and how we can keep improving. Thirty-three people from across seven Northern Rivers LGAs responded, including both trained Community Carers and Responders (CCRs) and untrained community members. Their feedback has been incredibly helpful, and we’re grateful for everyone who took the time to share.
The overall message was that people deeply valued having a calm, trusted space to stay connected during a stressful time. Our WhatsApp groups were described as “grounding”, “reassuring”, and “a backbone to community support”. Daily round-ups were seen as a reliable “source of truth”, especially with so much conflicting information floating around.
There was also real appreciation for the emotional side of things like meditations, simple check-ins, and the reminder that we’re in it together. One person said just seeing the word together in our messages had an immediate impact on how they felt.
At the same time, there were a few things we could do better. Some people felt communication in the lead-up to the cyclone was a bit patchy, especially with so much mixed messaging from other sources. A few areas like Clunes and Eltham didn’t feel as well-covered, and some respondents suggested we could be clearer about who we are, what we’re doing, and how others can get involved.
People also said they’d love to see stronger links with ABC radio (for those without internet), more practical templates for sharing local updates (like power outages or road closures), and clearer ways to find and connect with nearby CCRs (Community Carers and Responders).
Looking ahead, we’ll keep working on:
Making emotional preparedness more visible and expected
Encouraging early action, like charging radios and prepping backup supplies
Strengthening coordination with local services and media
Giving people practical tools to report what’s happening in their area
Thanks again to everyone who shared your feedback. This kind of reflection helps us grow the work in a way that’s grounded, human, and genuinely useful. If you’ve got ideas, we’re always open – just email us hello@planc.org.au or reach out.
