There are fears for the mental health of residents isolated on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula by impassable flooded roads.
Councils across the peninsula have been tallying the cost of storms and flooding since an intense storm cell from the tail of Tropical Cyclone Tiffany dumped a year's worth of rain on some areas in 24 hours a fortnight ago.
Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association executive officer Peter Scott said it was as if stay-at-home orders had been imposed all over again.
"People have been through lockdowns — now there's a physical flood lockdown," Mr Scott said.
"Kids can't get to school, school buses can't get through.
"Eyre Peninsula is a tough crowd but these things add up, so it's something we need to keep an eye on.
Mr Scott said the association was doing everything it could to help people get back on their feet.
"Health services have been rolled out and we're trying to reach out to everyone to make sure everyone's dealing with it OK," he said.
'Extra pressure'
Meagan Lienert, the chair of the Kimba Our Town mental health initiative, said the weather event was almost unbelievable.
"It's an exciting event to see, the amount of water and newfound lakes that people are using for water sports, but the devastation and the damage goes beyond that," Ms Lienert siad.
"Amid the excitement, there's heartache and a lot of cost.
"While most places are insured, it's having the time and the labour to repair the damage.
"It is a lot of extra pressure.
With school returning, there would have been a sense of normality for students, but that was dashed when roadblocks cut access for school buses.
Our Town has been helping to organise volunteers for rebuilding efforts.
"It's a small community, so everyone does rally around — we all support each other," Ms Lienert said.
'Compounded trauma'
Counsellors from Mentally Fit Eyre Peninsula had regularly visited Kimba, but that became difficult amid COVID and now the floods.
Community development officer Laine Montgomerie said the isolation from flooding was almost like "compounded trauma" because residents were unable to move around freely.
"You have a lockdown which is something you have been asked to do, but with the flooding on top it's almost like you have to do it because you've been physically cut off." Ms Montgomerie said.
"The best thing really is to know that it won't last forever, and with the community, everyone does look out for each other."
