Local SES Controller, Colleen Clancy is calling on volunteers to join the local crew who she said are stretched with an increase of call-outs.
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She said while the recent weather has confirmed the need for numbers, the call for volunteers is always high.
“We are stretched at the moment with the weather, but we are always after volunteers because the best time to train them is when we’ve got good weather and we’re not busy with call-outs, so they’re prepared when we do get busy,” she said.
Training involves meeting once a week, occasionally on weekends, and doesn’t require volunteers to be on call 24/7. For more information contact Colleen on 0427 737 964.
In the meantime SES volunteers have received 13 requests for assistance since September 21, from a flooded basement to dams threatening to breach.
“Run-off water was threatening to flood a house so we had to put some sandbags up to divert it in Templemore Street, we had a tree on a car in Florence Street, we’ve had several requests for sandbags, and we’ve had trees over roads as well,” Colleen said.
She has also had innumerable calls from people travelling on major state roads inquiring about road closures, something Colleen said can be answered by checking on the Live Traffic website or on local council websites.
“I don’t have that information off the top of my head unless I’ve been on the Live Traffic website myself, so they need to look on Live Traffic for that kind of information,” she said.
For all concerns contact the SES call centre on 132 500.
