Lane Cove residents have seen their fair share of storms and with the suburb engulfed in trees and neighboured by a river, extreme weather events and its subsequent clean-up can be extensive.
Fortunately, these are when our local SES Willoughby-Lane Cove Unit comes into play. The emergency and rescue service not only dedicates its time to do that, but also to educate local communities on properly preparing for a storm.
In The Cove visited the local unit’s HQ in Naremburn this week to learn more about the service and what they provide – and for an organisation that’s 100 per cent volunteers in our area, it’s a lot.
Public Information Coordinator and SES volunteer Amanda Jordan met us at the door as she was preparing for the weekly volunteer training night.
“We are the service that responds to emergencies during times of flood and storms and tsunamis. We do have a lot of storm events that we have to go to, because the lower north shore has so many trees and they fall down in storms, roofs get damaged, and we have to make emergency repairs,” Amanda told ITC, situated in the Unit’s control room.
“And then the other part of our job is to try and teach the local community how to best prepare for storms and bad weather events before they happen.”
By 7 pm the building began to fill up with tens of volunteers cheerfully greeting one another, surveying the emergency vehicles and testing the equipment to check everything is action-ready. In extreme weather events, being prepared is key.
So How Do You Prepare?
It’s easy to neglect that loose tile on the roof or those blocked gutters, but during times of storms and heavy rain, these afterthoughts can be the reason you are ankle-deep in water in your own home.
Here’s how you should prepare your home preceding a weather event.
Clean your gutters:
It is important to keep your gutters and downpipes clear as blockages can cause the water to overflow under the eaves into the roof cavity.
This can cause an array of issues leaky infrastructure to short circuited electricals.
Clearing the gutters along the street around your property will also prevent flood waters from diverting towards your home.
Fix any damage to your roof, including broken or missing tiles:
Much like keeping your gutters blocked, a damaged or exposed roof can be open season for water to seep in your home, causing an inundated living room.
Put together an emergency kit:
An emergency kit should consist of medications or important papers/belongings your family may need in the event of an immediate evacuation.
Other helpful items can be waterproof bags, torches and batteries, a first aid kid, food and drinking water and a portable radio.
Maintain your yard and balcony:
It can be crucial to the structure of your house to be aware of and trim trees and branches that could potentially fall onto your property.
You should also secure items that could blow away in strong winds.
Be aware of where you park your vehicles:
The SES recommends parking your vehicle away from any area where it may get crushed by a tree branch.
Avoid parking your vehicles in any area with a high risk of flooding.
Stay away from floodwaters:
Do not drive, walk or ride through floodwaters.
It is extremely dangerous, floodwater may be deeper and faster flowing than it appears and often contains hidden snags and debris.
Flash flooding also has the potential of turning a situation hazardous in an instant.
The water contains an array of diseases and bacteria and coming into contact with it may induce sickness.
Know where to source information:
Listen to your local radio station and other media for weather warnings. For people in the Willoughby-Lane Cove catchment, this will be ABC radio, and ITC, of course!
You should also download the NSW Hazards Near Me app which will give you a three-tier warning system for hazards in your area.
Who and When To Call In An Emergency
It’s important to only call the SES if it’s an emergency event. The Willoughby-Lane Cove Unit is 100 per cent run by volunteers, so, during a storm they will already be stretched thin, let alone having the capacity to attend unnecessary jobs.
They do not respond to maintenance calls such as storm repair or green waste removal.
Here’s a list of appropriate times to call the SES:
- If your property is damaged and you cannot fix it yourself
- If a fallen tree has blocked the road, your driveway, house or damaged your property
- If there is a leak in your roof which could cause a collapse or flooding.
If there is a life threatening event do not hesitate to call 000 for emergency services.
If you need flood or storm assistance, call 132 500 for NSW State Emergency Services, they are prepared to respond and support communities.
Volunteering
Many hands make light work and as a full-volunteer Unit, Willoughby-Lane Cove need all the help they can get.
You can be as young as 16 to volunteer for the SES and as old as you’re able to coordinate rescue efforts or work a chainsaw.
“You need to be someone who’s willing to put a bit of hard work in to train to learn things like how to safely go on a roof,” Amanda explained.
“For instance, we might be conducting a land search, assisting the police. You have to be trained for that so that you don’t get lost and cause another problem. It’s a willingness to meet people from different walks of life and to be trained.”
Training can vary in different areas. There’s IMT for community liaison and education, or on-the-ground support where you can drive trucks, boats and fix roofs. Some volunteers have been around for 30 years and are still continuing their training.
Luckily, the local Unit prepares and trains almost every week, so there’s plenty of time and opportunity to hone those skills.
To volunteer, visit here, or if you want more information on the SES and how to prepare in a storm, visit here.
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