A Central Queensland rescue team will head to Townsville today to give relief during flooding.
BMA CQ Rescue has sent one helicopter north to give support, as the region is hit hard by torrential rain with plenty more expected this week.
Some communities in the region are cut off without power or access to medical services.
In 2023, BMA CQ Rescue flew to Cairns and will do the same to offer aeromedical support in the Townsville region.
BMA CQ Rescue General Manager Lisa Martin said, “We have been asked to help our brothers and sisters in the north and due to our amazing team forgoing days off, offering to work overtime, and supporting each other, we have been able to say ‘yes.'”
“There are a lot of logistics involved in having two helicopters fully operational at the same time. But, here in the north, we stick together and we help when we can, so we’ve found a way to make it work,” she said.
Shaun McLellan is the Pilot leading the emergency relief mission and said that he was more than happy to give up his days off to support the Townsville region.
“We are all there for each other, it’s what we do. If they call on us, we do everything we can to be there,” Mr McLellan said.
“You never know when it might be our region that needs a hand, so when we can help we do”.
The Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region will still be well served by CQ Rescue’s other chopper, which remains on duty with a full crew ready to fly 24/7.
While it is not yet clear how long BMA CQ Rescue will be tasked to help, the team is preparing for three days, after which, a further assessment will be made.
