A week on from an intense storm that blew the roofs off five homes in the remote town of Marble Bar, residents are still unsure just how much repairs will cost. Due to the town's isolated location, it's expected repairs will be expensive and difficult to organise meaning those worst impacted could be displaced for some time to come.
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00:00It was a short but sharp burst of wind and rain locals will remember for a long time.
00:08Storms are common this time of year, but the intensity of the 115km an hour winds took
00:13everyone by surprise.
00:14I thought I was going to lift my car up, that's how heavy it was.
00:19Five homes were destroyed, almost 30 damaged.
00:22Olga Potter's home was unscathed.
00:24Just across the road, her daughter wasn't so lucky.
00:27Peeled off my roof on my lounge, bedroom and half the bathroom.
00:34Just wet everything.
00:36She doesn't have insurance, deciding to end her plan last year due to skyrocketing premiums.
00:41But rather than dwell on the financial damage, she's just grateful there was no human cost.
00:46At the end of the day it's only things and nobody got hurt.
00:50So you know, things can get rebuilded.
00:52The problem facing those displaced by this storm is getting builders out to such a remote
00:56location.
00:57And when those builders do arrive, some residents will struggle to pay the added costs of transport
01:02and accommodation.
01:03It wouldn't be unusual to have an air conditioner being replaced for $1,400, but have a $2,500
01:09travel and accommodation bill to do that.
01:11So that in itself is problematic.
01:14Some of those costs could be covered by state government relief payments, now available
01:17for up to $4,000, and the Resource Centre is helping those who aren't tech savvy apply.
01:23Despite the potential long road to recovery, Mr Harris says there's reasons to be hopeful.
01:29Like any small town, we've got our differences.
01:31You don't talk to this person that day or that person the next day.
01:34But as soon as it hits the fan, let me tell you, those differences are put aside and it's
01:39your hands out.
01:40What can I do?
01:41How can I help?
01:42What do you need?
01:43Do you need a feed?
01:44Do you need a bed for the night?
01:45A setback showing the warmth in Australia's hottest town.