This summer was one of the busiest for SES volunteers in the Hilltops region.
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Storms were a regular occurrence throughout the warmer months in Young and surrounds, on many occasions leaving paths of destruction in their wake.
Hilltops SES unit controller Ros Bickford said volunteers in Young and Harden were tasked to more jobs in January and February than in the entire past three years.
One storm in February resulted in 22 call outs in Harden alone, while Young received in one downpour more than double its average monthly rainfall, with more than 80 millimetres recorded.
The majority of calls to SES was for assistance in relation to flooding, roof damage and fallen trees, Ms Bickford said.
"We saw an increase in jobs compared to past years across the entire Hilltops Local Government area. That was due to some really big storms. I think Harden was hit hardest and that was during February," Ros Bickford said.
While volunteers are constantly training for severe weather events, Ms Bickford said they required assistance from Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire and Rescue and neighbouring SES units.
"We did get a bit caught out but that was due to the amount of jobs. We did have assistance from the RFS and NSW Fire and Rescue and even the Yass SES unit," she said.
"It won't ever be one tree down and it won't ever be one damaged roof, it'll be a whole raft of them."
With high winds and rain forecast for Young and the Hilltops region later this week, Ms Bickford is urging residents to clear gutters and secure loose items in yards.
"The public can help, particularly at this time of year it is important to clear gutters with many trees losing leaves.
"With high winds forecast secure all loose items. Once they're airborne, they turn into missiles," she said.
Disaster relief funding is now available to help affected individuals, small businesses, primary producers and councils to get back on their feet.
More information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian government's disaster assist website.