3 Reasons to Read Stories from the Flood Lismore
When the Northern Rivers floods hit in February 2022, the disaster changed thousands of lives in a single day. Homes were washed away, businesses destroyed, and whole communities shaken to the core. But behind the headlines and numbers were real people holding onto gutters in freezing water, people watching loved ones disappear, people facing trauma that still shows up every time heavy rain begins to fall.
Stories from the Flood Lismore brings these experiences together in a powerful and human way. Based on interviews first published in the Nimbin Good Times newspaper throughout 2023, this book captures voices from across the community and everyday residents who lived through the disaster and its long recovery. Here are three important reasons to read this book.
1. It Reveals the Human Side of Australia’s Most Expensive Natural Disaster
Statistics can tell us the size of the flood; more than 14 metres of water, twenty lives lost, billions of dollars in damage. But they cannot show what it felt like to cling to a gutter for hours in a raging torrent, or to stand silently in the ruins of your business, or to wake each night because your body still thinks danger is coming.
This book shows the emotional reality of survival: the shock, the courage, the trauma, and the deep resilience of a community that refused to give up.
2. It Gives Voice to Stories That Are Still Unfolding
Many people in the Northern Rivers are still healing. Trauma does not disappear when the water goes down; it lingers in the body and mind. Increased heart rate, tense muscles, sleepless nights, and sudden fear when it starts to rain. These are real symptoms many locals still live with.
The interviews in this book honour that truth. They offer space for people to speak openly, sometimes for the first time. Because the author approached each person like a counsellor rather than a journalist, the stories are gentle, honest, and deeply personal.
3. It Helps Us Understand Community, Recovery, and Compassion
The book began with one simple act of listening: meeting Satnam in the wreckage of his restaurant. From there, the story grew, gathering voices from all walks of life. Together, these stories show how essential community is in times of crisis. Healing takes safety and connection, and these pages remind us that no one should face disaster alone.
Stories from the Flood Lismore is more than a record of what happened. It is a tribute to the strength and spirit of a community that continues to rebuild, recover, and rise.