WINDS of 98.2 kilometers per hour were recorded in Frankston during a wild storm last week.
Frankston State Emergency Service was the state’s busiest SES on the morning of the storm. Up to 11.30am on 29 October, it received 168 calls for assistance. The next busiest SES unit was Ballarat with 140. A total of 2,518 requests for help were made to the SES over the course of the night and morning.
Most of the calls made to the SES were about downed trees. 1,936 calls were made to alert the service about fallen trees, and 422 were about building damage.
In the wake of the chaotic night, SES state agency commander David Baker urged people to stay safe. “If you don’t need to be outside, don’t be outside,” he said. “If you’re on the road take all necessary care, drive to conditions, beware of trees. If you need our assistance call 132500, if it’s life-threatening call triple zero.”
Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning officials were also assessing the damage statewide last Friday. “Our crews are working hard to assess storm impacts, however there is a significant risk of falling trees, particularly with the wet and windy weather forecast over the coming days,” a DELWP statement read.
“Due to the recent extreme weather, many tracks, trails and recreation sites across Victoria may be unsafe.
“Check the Forest Fire Management Victoria website ffm.vic.gov.au for general information and the Parks Victoria website parks.vic.gov.au for park, site, road and track closures. Visit traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au for updates on public road closures and download the VicEmergency app.”
While wild weather persisted kerbside bin collections were delayed, and the Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre and Frankston City Libraries all closed.
