Volunteers with the South Australian State Emergency Service (SES) are gearing up for their busiest season of the year.
While the 1700 SES volunteers respond to thousands of calls for help from the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Spring remains their busiest three months of the year.
SES Chief Officer Chris Beattie said this was often because Spring was renowned for severe and often unpredictable storms.
“In Spring 2023 the SES responded to around 2000 calls from the public,’’ he said.
“The rapid onset of destructive or damaging winds is often the main reason for damage to property and is responsible for bringing down power lines, causing power disruptions to homes and businesses.
“We also know the dangers of not securing loose items around the home such as trampolines, kids play equipment and outdoor furniture.’’
He said the 1700-strong cohort of SES volunteers, who lead the response to severe storm and flooding impacts, are up to the task.
“When our volunteers are not responding to calls for help from the public, they maintain a consistent regimen of ongoing training to ensure their skills are maintained and up to date with the latest technological improvements,’’ he said.
“Whether it is chain saw operations, vertical or marine rescue techniques, flood response or general rescue our volunteers are continually training to ensure they are well prepared.
“The SES will always be on call to support communities in need, however I encourage people to take proactive action now to prepare their properties for Spring.’’
Minister for Emergency Services Dan Cregan said South Australians can do their bit to reduce pressure on volunteers.
“Spring is a particularly busy period for crews and we can all play our part to ease emergency services’ workload,’’ he said.
“Taking measures around the home or business will help minimise the impact of severe weather on communities across the state.
“Preparing now also means volunteers might have one less callout to respond to and enables them to prioritise resources.”
Information and advice on how to prepare for Spring storms including Checklists, an Emergency Contact List and what to include in an Emergency Kit can be found on the SES website at ses.sa.gov.au.
