North Queenslanders are facing the aftermath of devastating floods, with hundreds of homes severely damaged. In Ingham, business owners fear they may have to close permanently if their insurance claims aren’t approved.
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00:00This is where Errol Morris has slept for the past fortnight.
00:07Power outages in Ingham mean he's thrown out most of his shop's stock.
00:11I've lost all my deli side, salamis, cold rooms, olive case, salami, cheese fridges.
00:20He's worried what'll happen if his insurance claims rejected.
00:23Well it means pretty much I'm done if they don't assist us and help us out.
00:29Many across the flood ravaged north are in the same boat, with 5,500 insurance claims
00:35so far.
00:36The majority of those are home and contents claims, but we are seeing an increase in motor
00:41and commercial claims as well.
00:43The fire department says more than 200 homes are severely damaged.
00:48I'll be talking to insurers as well to make sure that that service that people pay for
00:53is actually being provided.
00:57Overnight, almost 300 trucks crossed the Ollara Creek Bridge, reconnecting Townsville and
01:03Ingham.
01:04But by morning, the structure was closed for more repairs.
01:08There's a backlog of freight from Townsville, hasn't been able to get through to Cairns.
01:12Donations have been piling up, but getting supplies to Ingham has been a tough job.
01:18So we drive it to Rolling Stone, we jump on a little bus and then we transfer that onto
01:24a rail shuttle and then we transfer that onto another bus.
01:27Finally, this afternoon, the crossing reopened to all traffic.
01:32An investigation is underway after two men drove into a flooded creek north of Townsville
01:38and became stuck last night.
01:41Both were safely recovered.
01:43The police say it was a frustrating drain on emergency resources.
01:48If you don't need to be out there in the first place, don't be out there at all.
01:51And if you are, if you're faced with water in front of you, don't enter it.
01:55Despite another wet day in the north, there could soon be some relief.
02:00For tomorrow, still the risk of moderate falls, particularly up over the northern peninsula
02:04and areas north of Cairns, but for Townsville and these areas, should see reprieve from
02:09the rainfall as well, with heavy falls not expected.
02:13Some hope for a rain-soaked region.