Community
5 September, 2024
Storm lashes region, damage widespread
DAMAGING winds and heavy rain has seen state emergency services battling prolonged extreme weather conditions over the past week.
The severe weather event began last Tuesday, August 27 and lingered throughout the week to Monday, September 2.
The worst of the weather arrived early in the week, with state-wide damage reported and more than a dozen incidents across Terang and Mortlake on the Wednesday.
Winds up to 100km/h were recorded throughout the region, as multiple fronts moved across Victoria in an ongoing severe weather event which seldom relented.
“Since the start of the severe weather event, VICSES have received over 2000 Requests For Assistance (RFA) state-wide, with 1500 of those for trees down,” a VICSES spokesperson said on Thursday.
“During this time, the Terang unit has responded to 10 RFAs and Mortlake has responded to six.”
Among the worst incidents saw a home on Heard Street in Mortlake sustain significant roof damage in the high winds.
“The Mortlake unit attended the property on Wednesday afternoon following reports that a wind had blown a roof off, and the job was cleared at 1.20pm,” the SES spokesperson said.
The worst of the weather arrived in a final cold front between 11pm on Sunday, September 1 and 5am Monday. September 2.
An SES spokesperson said the weekend had kept local volunteers busy.
“Between Friday and Monday, VICSES volunteers across the Barwon South West region were paged to attend almost 1000 RFAs, with more than 600 for trees down and almost 300 for building damage,” the spokesperson said.
“During this period, VICSES Terang Unit volunteers were paged to 24 RFAs, while Mortlake volunteers were paged to two.”
Due to the severe weather, Corangamite Shire Council will provide free green waste drop-off at its transfer stations from Tuesday, September 3 until Monday, September 9 (inclusive).
This is for non-commercial customers and shire residents only and is to assist property owners to clean up storm damage.
For more information, go to corangamite.vic.gov.au or call council on 5593 7100.