By Tania Martin
ANDREW Buck and Rob Tillman of Emerald are no strangers to storm damage but they say it was shocking to see the damage left by recent storms in New South Wales.
The two Emerald SES volunteers have just returned home after spending four days in the storm ravaged areas of north Sydney and the Hunter Valley.
Wild storms and floods ravaged the central coast of NSW and the Hunter Valley earlier this month, killing seven people and causing widespread damage to many homes and businesses.
Mr Buck and Mr Tillman joined 60 Victorian volunteers who flew from Melbourne to Sydney to help with the storm clean up.
Following the storms the NSW SES received more than 11,000 calls for help with widespread power loss, floods and damage including numerous trees falling on buildings and houses.
Mr Buck said the storms caused widespread devastation.
Mr Tillman said he was no stranger to storms but the damage from this one was huge.
He said the storm was similar to what hills people experience but 10 or 20 times worse.
Mr Tillman said the damage wasn’t just in one street but 60 kilometres from north Sydney right up to the Hunter Valley.
“It was similar wind damage to here (the hills) but on a much large scale – it was a scale that you just couldn’t envision,” he said.
Both Mr Buck and Mr Tillman spent hours helping to clear tree debris from buildings and houses.
They said the teamwork between all emergency services was fantastic.
Mr Tillman said the teamwork and comradeship was great and that the NSW crews said they would return the favour if there was ever such a storm in Victoria.
Both Mr Tillman and Mr Buck are now urging anyone who wants to join the State Emergency Service to give it a try. The Emerald unit holds its training night every Monday from 7.30pm and anyone who is interested should call 9684 6651.
Mercy mission
Digital Editions
-
Yarra Ranges Council disappointed with the introduction of ESVF levy
While the state government has offered a temporary reprieve to our 2400 primary producers by capping the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) levy for…