Two community-led initiatives have helped flood-impacted residents keep warm in what has been a cold Lismore winter so far with minimums regularly reaching 4 or five degrees and sometimes a maximum of only 14 degrees..

Two Rooms project and Insulate Lismore, have seen residents living in shells of homes or emergency accommodation. They have helped residents move back into their homes and for those that were living in their house with just timber framework all around, they have replastered walls so heating is much more effective.

Courtney says she "is grateful for the support" from Two Rooms, an initiative instigated through Resilient Lismore and organisation funded, which has allowed herself and 3 children under 8 to have some warmth in what she says have been "hard times".

Image: Naomi and Peter volunteering at Courtney's home, to give some warmth and security

A strong, brave single mother of 4, she is clearly determined to recover from this disaster with dignity, and has done incredible amounts through her network of family and friends but says "the work never ends. I go to work, and come home, parent, early to bed as it's so cold at night we use electric blankets and add layers to stay warm, but then I lay awake thinking of all the things on my list, and wake up thinking about them, then go to work and start all over again".

It has been 5 months since the first devastating flood swept through, reaching the top of Courtney's bedroom window. She says she is lucky to have the support of friends and family, but that it has been much harder for her, and other single parents, who already have so much to juggle.

Similarly, Dax lives a few blocks away and is being supported by Insulate Lismore, a fully self-funded (through donation) initiative which has supported over 13 families already, to have some warmth and security. An initiative driven through sheer need and regard for the members of the community struggling, when no other options were adequately available.

Image: Dax surveys Dee and Emma's handiwork as his new home, in the shed, is voluntarily fitted out

Organiser Dee says "It's not enough. We need more preparation and support as a community to respond to climate disasters such as these. We need homes to be fitted with safer aspects such as escape hatches in roofs and markers for rescuers on the tops of telegraph poles or street corners at least."

"Here we are fitting out a shed for Dax to live in, as his home is unliveable due to the affected asbestos still needing removal, but what is bizarre, is that it was my boat that rescued him and neighbour John from the first flood!"

Whilst these two groups of volunteers do their best to create some security and warmth for people doing it tough, the question remains, what will the Flood Inquiry reveal to support the thousands still in destitution, camping in homes or the homeless? The Flood Inquiry report was due to be delivered to the Premier today.