SES volunteers Roger Edwards, John Anderson, Tony Rosling, SES Chief Officer Steve Forbes, Spencer Calderwood, Hugh Hagan, Photo: Nicholas Ward.
This week marks the start of storm season in the ACT, and with high rainfall and possible flooding in the forecast, locals are being urged to prepare now to stay safe.
Above-average rainfalls are expected in the next few months, and with Canberra’s dams already near capacity, the SES said now is an important time to get disaster-ready.
The SES, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the government came together to mark the start of storm season, highlighting resources available to locals and encouraging people to prepare ahead of storms.
According to the SES, even small maintenance tasks can make a big difference.
“Cleaning your gutters is really, really important,” SES Chief Officer Steve Forbes said.
“We talk about it all the time, but backed-up gutters can cause ingress of water into your house, so clean up those gutters, making sure that they flow nicely and cleanly.”
Mr Forbes also highlighted the importance of parking under cover, if possible, to protect your car from hail, and trimming overhanging branches off roofs.
For renters who might not be able to prepare in the same way, Mr Forbes said one of the easiest and most critical tasks was securing outdoor furniture.
“Work with your landlord. If you can get out there and you’re able, then you should do that yourself … but also securing furniture and loose items around the house also helps prevent damage.”
He also emphasised that Canberrans need to be aware that even seemingly minor floods pose a significant hazard.
“Don’t drive through flooded roadways. Don’t play, ride, walk or run or anything through flooded storm water drains throughout the territory.”
The SES’s Steve Forbes, Dr Marisa Paterson, and the BOM’s Cath Christensen, who joined forces to encourage Canberrans to prepare early. Photo: Nicholas Ward.
One of the key issues this season is Canberra’s water reservoir system. The city’s four dams are currently over 95 per cent full.
Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Cath Christensen warned that with the season shaping up to be a wet one, this raises particular concerns.
“We are more likely to see those severe thunderstorms produce that heavy to intense rainfall, which can lead to dangerous flash flooding.”
“Our dams are quite full after a number of reasonably good rainfall seasons. So just be aware that we do have an increased risk of seeing flooding through our rivers, and keep up to date with warnings,” Ms Christensen said.
Canberra’s dam designs don’t allow for the pre-releasing water ahead of the expected rainfall.
With the season shaping up to be complex for emergency services, the SES have been busy training their 400-plus volunteers, who have to learn everything from how to chainsaw a branch while secured to a roof, to assisting residents in flood-stricken houses.
SES volunteer Tony Rosling said that dealing with fallen branches is one of the most challenging parts of the job.
“When we have trees down on roofs, and we’ll often have quite large, dangerous trees on roofs, it takes a fair bit of skill from people like this to get up there and clear those roofs and try and make homeowners safe again.”
For the SES, the messaging is clear: be prepared as early as possible.
Police, Fire and Emergency Minister Dr Marisa Paterson praised the city’s emergency services and highlighted their cross-border support for recent incidents in NSW.
Ms Paterson said that the time to prepare for storms is always before they hit.
“It’s an opportunity and a call out to the community to do what they can to prepare for this storm season,” she said.
“Knowing what to do before, during, and after a storm can really make the difference in how impacted you are by a storm.”
Want to know how to prepare for storms? Visit the ESA.
The ACT ESA also maintains an incidents page where locals can view ongoing hazards, incidents and response efforts.
