By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Between midnight on Saturday 22 February and 11am on 24 February, VIC SES Emerald Unit volunteers were the busiest in the state, responding to more than 30 requests for assistance (RFAs), with all callouts related to fallen trees.
The relentless storms and strong winds across the Dandenong Ranges caused widespread disruption, leading emergency crews to spring into action.
The Emerald SES crews were particularly active, responding to calls from a variety of locations including Upwey, Mount Dandenong, Kallista, Monbulk, Cockatoo, Gembrook, Emerald, Ferny Creek, and Belgrave South.
Unit Controller of the Emerald Unit, Ben Owen spoke with Star Mail reporter, Shamsiya Hussainpoor about the chaos that unfolded over the weekend.
He described how the strong winds started picking up in the early hours of Sunday morning, and by around 3am, the requests for assistance began to pour in.
These continued through to late Sunday afternoon, with crews focused on clearing fallen trees from driveways and roads.
“We had over 30 calls for assistance, and at times we had multiple crews out responding,” Mr Owen said.
Monbulk Road, Olinda, was the hardest-hit area in the region, with the clean-up taking eight-hours to clear the road and restore power lines.
The high winds, combined with hot weather, caused widespread tree damage.
According to Mr Owen, gum trees are particularly vulnerable to dropping branches in hot weather, but the primary cause of the damage was the intense winds – this also resulted in a major power outage across the area.
Mr Owen also took the opportunity to remind the public about safety precautions during power outages.
“If you’re blocked in by fallen trees, or you come across a tree that needs clearing, please call 132 500 for assistance. If it’s life-threatening, call Triple-Zero.”
Emerald’s SES teams were stretched thin, with over a dozen people actively responding on the road at any one time, and close to 20 more members helping out throughout the day –despite the chaos, he confirmed there were no injuries reported.
The Emerald Unit continues to seek new volunteers to join their ranks.
“We’re looking for people to assist with both operational and non-operational roles. Anyone interested can come along on a Monday night to chat with our members about what it involves,” Mr Owen said.
For further information or to volunteer, the public is encouraged to get in touch with the Emerald SES Unit.
