Flood - Citrus Nursery Devastation

Engelhardt Citrus is a small family owned business in the Orara valley west of Coffs Harbour.  At 40,000 citrus plants, they supplied nurseries and stores along the east coast of Australia. 

On the 11th of February 2020, after an already heavy week of rain, a torrential downpour started at 6pm and by 9pm the Orara river rose at such rates that a emergency evacuation of personnel or equipment was out of the question. And for this to happen at night time with no power made the harrowing event even more terrifying. The intensity of the flood rose so quick that even a brief attempt to secure belongings from out on the verandah, met with a life gripping moment by having to grasp onto the rafters while fighting the current.  Then to be locked in the house by a torrent of water flowing past the windows and finding its way inside. Not knowing if or when the nightmare would end.

John and Sonni and their three kids are a lovely family who have supported and donated a lot of their time and money to those in their time of need and also charities. The flood wiped them out in a matter of hours. The car, house, sheds, tanks, nursery equipment, machinery and livestock.
Nothing on this property was safe. Even the 3 family cows washed away during the night.  

Due to insurance companies not providing flood protection to the nursery, the loss of the plant stock is a loss entirely. 40,000 plants alone damaged and with a quarter of that stock washed away, all with a total value of up to 800k. Irrigation and plant benches over tens of thousands of dollars. And what's left is salvaged and halting the production for up to 3 years. 

The family of Engelhardt have been battered down by this freak event and eventually we got the approval to launch this gofundme, so I'm hoping we  can help them to not only regain their strength but rebuild a business that helped supply Australia with citrus.

All funds will go to repair, restructure and rebuild. For this family business is part of our economy.