State Emergency Services
LATEST S.E.S ACTIVITIES REPORT
Provided by Ian Borrowdale
Local Controller,
Shoalhaven City SES Unit
Local SES returns after assisting Canberra firefighters
22nd January 2003
5 SES crew from the Southern Shoalhaven Unit ( Ulladulla) returned today after a 5 day deployment with other SES personnel from the Illawarra Division. The crew, lead by Unit Controller, Bill McInnes carried out logistic tasks to assist fire fighters in and around Canberra.
Gale force wind caused damage in many parts of the Shoalhaven on Tuesday. Majority of serious damage occurred in North Nowra and Shoalhaven Heads.
In Hanson's road a large branch pierced the roof of a house, went through the ceiling of a bed room, stopping a short distance from a bed in the room fortunately unoccupied at the time.
According to Ian Borrowdale, a two story house in Bolt street Shoalhaven Heads lost all of its roof which landed on the property to the rear, causing damage to the house.
The disused ESSO depot in Bomaderry also lost several sheets of cladding during the day, some of them landing near the railway line, prompting an alert being issued to State Rail.
Houses were evacuated in North Nowra and in Old Erowal Bay while tree loppers took down dangerous trees, assisted by SES crews in the region.
Three response units from the Shoalhaven City unit were assisted by one from Southern Shoalhaven unit.
Statistics
First response
: 4.00 am
Last response
7.30 pm
Total tasks
completed 44
SES personnel
25
It has been a busy week for SES volunteers in Shoalhaven. On Monday afternoon the unit was asked to send storm teams to Sydney.
Tuesday morning 8 personnel from the Northern unit and 4 rescue persons from the Southern Unit travelled to Sydney to assist with storm damage tasks. They returned to the Shoalhaven on Wednesday pm after changing vehicles with a relief team of four from the northern unit who returned to Sydney. They will return on Friday.
On Tuesday afternoon 5 SES traffic controllers assisted police by directing traffic around the fatal road accident on Culburra road. Personnel also assessed a problem tree which had split and was threatening to damage a house at Myola. Our trainers also conducted the ongoing induction course for trainees from Shoalhaven High School on Tuesday afternoon.
On Wednesday night the headquarters was busy with assessments being conducted by Division Personnel to qualify our trainers and rescue teams in the new general rescue course.
An induction assessment for newly joined members was conducted while the recently formed Wilderness Search Team had a meeting and training night. In addition a group of the Shoalhaven High School trainees attended to meet our members and tour the Headquarters. Equipment maintenance was carried out by members not involved in the above activities.
On Thursday I will present a cheque on behalf of the Division controller to the Jervis Bay Lions Club, in recognition of their Driver Reviver activities. This Saturday I will represent the SES at the opening of the Lady Denman Complex while members of the unit will provide first aid coverage for this event.
It has been a busy week!