Your needs will change – A rough guide to what you might need, and when.

In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, the needs are obvious. Somewhere to sleep. Clothes. Food. The basics of just getting through the next few hours. 

But recovery and rebuilding don’t end there. So, nor does the need for support. 

As time passes, what you need will change. And that’s completely normal. Here’s a rough map of what that can look like, so you can start to identify what would actually help at each stage. 

Right now 

• Emotional support and someone to be with 
• Help locating important documents and ID, or replacing them if they’re gone 

In the coming weeks 

• Help navigating insurance claims and paperwork 
• A temporary place to stay that feels stable 
• School runs and childcare while you find your feet 
• Meals, groceries and household basics 
• Help sorting through what can be salvaged 
• Space and support to process what just happened, emotionally as well as practically 

In the months ahead 

• Working bees to help with clean up or repairs  
• Help with rebuilding admin, like council forms or contractor quotes  
• Help navigating government assistance, grants and relief funds, the paperwork is relentless and having someone in your corner makes a real difference  
• School runs, activity drop offs and pickups, keeping the kids’ routines as normal as possible while the rebuild happens  
• Help with the household basics, washing, groceries, errands, so daily life keeps functioning while your energy goes into rebuilding 

The support you need six months from now might be different, but it’s just as valid.  

The Gather My Crew app makes it easy to communicate what you need at each stage.