WITH KIAMA and the Illawarra generally spared the worst of this week’s devastating storms, the Kiama SES unit offered members to help with the mop-up in Sydney.
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Six-eight members, including two who only finished fundamentals training in the past two week,s answered the request for help from NSW SES and lent a hand in Southern Sydney.
Damaging and destructive winds, heavy rainfall and damaging surf battered the metropolitan, mid north coast, Hunter and Illawarra regions for three days.
The storm Premier Mike Baird declared was a once in-a-decade event, claimed six lives. The costs are expected to exceed $129 million.
In the 48 hours from Tuesday-Wednesday, the State SES headquarters in Wollongong responded to more than 10,000 jobs including around 300 of those across the Illawarra.
Rainfall ranged from 80-100mm in the 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven and peak wind gusts were recorded in Kiama of 9okm/hr.
The Kiama SES unit received only 33 calls for help.
Unit deputy controller John Wall said the requests were for a variety of problems including storm-related flooding, damaged gutters and roofs and even his own garage roller door, which was blown out.
On Wednesday, members advised people in low-lying areas of Jerrara to evacuate, that the dam had gone to an amber alert stage and on Monday volunteers helped a family in Kiama Downs where a trampoline was blown through a bedroom window.
Mr Wall said untethered trampolines were an increasing injury and property risk.
‘‘We have had a number of occasions where we have had to rescue trampolines,’’ he said.
‘‘When you think about the number of kilograms that they weigh, if people are walking around outside, then it’s a lethal combination or even if they hit the house or the neighbour’s house it can go through a window and cause significant danage or injury.
Mr Wall said despite the strong winds, there was a surprisingly lack of fallen trees.
‘‘I think that was because the winds were southerly. It would seem our trees are quite resistant to southerly winds,’’ he said.
Mr Wall said while things were relatively uneventful in Kiama, members could empathise with emergency services personnel further north.
‘‘Having gone through the tornadoes two years ago, we certainly can undertsand what our colleagues in the north are going through.’’
Mr Wall said events like the recent storms often saw in increase in interest in people joining the organisation.
He said that while the next intake was not until October, he encouraged anyone who wished to join to visit ses.nsw.gov.au.
‘‘While we really encourage people to join, it’s worthwhile knowing that there is a lot more that has to be done now to ensure that people have the required competencies to do the job in a manner that not only keeps them safe but also that keeps the public safe as well,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s not like the old says where we would give someone some training and give someone a chainsaw and send them out there.’’
