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September 28th, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
THE children of families fighting for flood insurance payouts are showing disturbing signs of depression, a federal inquiry has been told.
The inquiry has also been told flood victims’ health was put at risk with some having no choice but to continue living in damaged homes for months before insurance assessors arrived.
The inquiry, sitting in Toowoomba west of Brisbane today, is looking at how the insurance industry handled claims during Queensland’s summer of natural disasters.
Lockyer Valley Flood Recovery co-ordinator Derek Pingel told the hearing anti-depression medication was being prescribed to teenagers in the valley.
Mr Pingel said high school students and university students in the region were also showing a slide in academic achievement and motivation because of their parents’ financial stress.
“I’ve noticed children, more teenagers than other children, have been profoundly affected,” Mr Pingel said.
“There have been significant rifts between them and their parents.”
When asked if any had shown signs of being suicidal, he said: “A few of them had the tendency to go through the act”.
Outside the hearing, Mr Pingel told reporters about his direct dealings with flood affected families across the Lockyer Valley.
“We are seeing quite a high rate of young adults and teenagers with depression going on medication,” he said.
Not knowing what was going to happen next was compounding families’ stress, he said.
“Adding to the anguish is the extraordinary time taken to get an answer as to whether a) their insurance covers them, or b) if they’ll get paid out,” he said.
“This is causing family issues that would ordinarily not be there.”
He said insurance companies must understand the emotional fallout caused by delays.
He said keeping victims informed about where their claims were at would help ease anxiety.
“What I would do if I was in (the insurers’) shoes is to communicate,” he said.
“I hope insurance companies take notice that maybe they need to trim up on their policies and communication and to be just a bit more sensitive to the people who need them.
Western Downs Regional Council councillor Ray Jamieson told the inquiry residents in the Dalby area, who endured several consecutive floods, had been living in damaged homes waiting for claims to be processed.
He said it took insurance assessors eight weeks to assess flood damage to his home.
“We lived in the stench for eight weeks,” he said.
Asked if there were any health repercussions from mould, Mr Jamieson said they were minor but other families had suffered more.
“We both had sinus problems and coughs during that period.”
He said he understood the entire state had experienced an unprecedented spate of disasters but more communication and quicker responses from insurance companies was needed.
If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide contact beyondblue 1300 22 46 36, Lifeline 13 11 14 or Salvo Care Line 1300 36 36 22.
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