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Clearing the way A CHELSEA SES volunteer uses a chainsaw to clear debris. Picture: Supplied
Wild weather causes ‘mass destruction’ Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au NEARLY 90 calls for assistance were made to Chelsea SES last week as wild weather lashed the state. Harsh winds wreaked havoc, knocking down trees and damaging homes. The SES was at its busiest on Wednesday night, 9 June. Chelsea SES member Phil Wall said “I’ve been with the SES for 18
years and I don’t remember experiencing a night like that.” “We tend to forget and think about the last storm you see, but I can’t remember another one which had winds as strong as they were for as long as they went. We also didn’t even get hit as bad as some of the other areas of the state. We ended up with close to 90 requests.” SES volunteers were still clearing a backlog of jobs on 11 June. “After almost 3 days and more than 70 re-
quests for assistance from our community, we are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel,” the SES said in a statement. “With only 10 to 15 jobs still outstanding, but still dribbling in, and Green Team working through them since early this morning to clear everything, it has been a fantastic effort. We had damage to roofs, fences, vehicles, and houses, trees down onto fences, roofs, and roads, and one rogue pagola that enjoyed a short sharp flight and slightly
awkward rooftop landing.” Chelsea SES sent volunteers to other areas of the state to help out. A statement on the Chelsea SES Facebook page read “over the past 72 hours, Chelsea SES volunteer members have been operational in 3 different areas, Traralgon, Lilydale and Chelsea, doing whatever it takes to help to protect these communities. There are a lot of tired volunteers out there at the moment, but it is these days that make us all the proudest to
do what we do.” “Looking at the mass destruction, it is almost impossible to believe that there were no deaths or serious injuries resulting from the storms that swept through our state on Wednesday night and Thursday, although two people did lose their lives in cars in flood waters. Amazing work by everyone involved from every agency.” Continued page 2
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