Central Coast SES workers have finally cleared the backlog of calls resulting from the Coast’s major storm event on February 7-9 and another snap storm on February 18.
NSW SES Gosford Unit Deputy Commander, Werner Klumpp, said Coast units just had outstanding calls from the major weather event down to single digits when the February 18 storm took call out numbers back up again.
The massive thunderstorm lit up skies around the region as thunder, lightning, strong winds and rains descended.
“There weren’t as many calls from the southern part of the region as you might expect after the February 18 storm,” Klumpp said.
“That’s probably because the storm was quite short lived.
“We had maybe half a dozen calls, mainly regarding trees or branches which had come down on roads.
“There were also a couple of property damage calls which we attended to the following day.
“In the north of the region there were a few more calls, maybe 8-10, mostly regarding property damage.
“Even before that storm, calls were still coming in regarding the previous weather event, mainly people noticing branches hanging precariously in trees which became more visible as the rains cleared.”
The more than 1,700 calls which came over the February 7-9 storm and into subsequent weeks have now been attended to.
Klumpp said the SES was “very grateful” for the support of the Rural Fire Service in attending to calls.
“We all know they have been super busy for months with fires and then they fronted up for storm and floods calls,” he said.
“Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to clear the jobs as quickly as we did.
“Fire and Rescue NSW has also been hugely supportive.”
Meanwhile, Central Coast Council Mayor, Lisa Matthews, said Council was continuing to work closely with the SES, Ausgrid and other agencies to support the community.
“It has been a tough few months for our community,” Cr Matthews said.
“First the bush fires where our residents fought for weeks alongside the Rural Fire Service to protect their properties, and now we have had closed roads, downed powerlines and trees, and flooded homes and businesses.
“Nature has not been kind to us.”
Spoiled food waste can be disposed for free at Council’s waste management facilities and residents can book a kerbside collection for excess trees and garden waste that is too large for their green waste bin.
Tree or garden waste can also be disposed of at one of Council’s waste management facilities for free up until February 29.
Cr Matthews said Council’s role in any emergency was to support the lead agency, the SES, to get key information out to the community and to support with staff and other resources.
She commended council staff for “for putting the community first” as they opened roadways, removed trees and organic green waste, organised extra bin collections and ensured the integrity of the water and sewer network.
“We are all in this as a community together,” she said.
“And we must pull together, be kind to nature and to each other and work together to rebuild a strong resilient community.”
Source:
Media release, Feb 14
Central Coast Council
Interview, Feb 19 and media statement Feb 27
Werner Klumpp, Deputy Commander, Gosford Unit, NSW SES