NEARLY 90 calls for assistance were made to Chelsea SES last week as wild weather lashed the state.
Harsh winds wreaked havoc, knocking down trees and damaging homes. The SES was at its busiest on Wednesday night, 9 June.
Chelsea SES member Phil Wall said “I’ve been with the SES for 18 years and I don’t remember experiencing a night like that.”
“We tend to forget and think about the last storm you see, but I can’t remember another one which had winds as strong as they were for as long as they went. We also didn’t even get hit as bad as some of the other areas of the state. We ended up with close to 90 requests.”
SES volunteers were still clearing a backlog of jobs on 11 June. “After almost 3 days and more than 70 requests for assistance from our community, we are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel,” the SES said in a statement. “With only 10 to 15 jobs still outstanding, but still dribbling in, and Green Team working through them since early this morning to clear everything, it has been a fantastic effort. We had damage to roofs, fences, vehicles, and houses, trees down onto fences, roofs, and roads, and one rogue pagola that enjoyed a short sharp flight and slightly awkward rooftop landing.”
Chelsea SES sent volunteers to other areas of the state to help out. A statement on the Chelsea SES Facebook page read “over the past 72 hours, Chelsea SES volunteer members have been operational in 3 different areas, Traralgon, Lilydale and Chelsea, doing whatever it takes to help to protect these communities. There are a lot of tired volunteers out there at the moment, but it is these days that make us all the proudest to do what we do.”
“Looking at the mass destruction, it is almost impossible to believe that there were no deaths or serious injuries resulting from the storms that swept through our state on Wednesday night and Thursday, although two people did lose their lives in cars in flood waters. Amazing work by everyone involved from every agency.”
The state SES reported that last week was the busiest in its history. Over 9000 calls for help were made to the Victoria State Emergency Service.
“For those who are impacted by the current floods or power outages, you can always leave your home and travel more than 25 km in an emergency to stay safe, at a family member or a friend’s house. You can also travel to get the supplies you need, no matter how far,” an SES statement read. “The Victorian government has announced personal hardship assistance program emergency relief payments are available to help meet immediate needs, including emergency food, shelter, clothing and personal items.
“The storms and power outages across Victoria may cause feelings of anxiety and concern in some people. It’s important you look after your mental health, and check in on their friends and family. Support is available 24/7 from Beyond Blue and Lifeline.”
To find out how to access relief payments for immediate needs, visit emergency.vic.gov.au/relief.
To read more about becoming an SES volunteer, visit ses.vic.gov.au/volunteer
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 16 June 2021