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LIGHTNING RIDGE
State Emergency Service
Flood and Storm Operations
"The State Emergency Service or SES is a community based organisation, made up almost entirely of volunteers who provide immediate assistance during and following emergencies. Operating under an Act of Parliament, the SES is based on Local Government Areas and is supported by Local Councils, State and Federal Governments" and the generosity of the Community. "The SES has its origins during the disastrous floods of 1954-55, which caused great loss of life and damage along every river system in the State."
"Since then the SES has experienced steady growth both as a State-wide organisation and in volunteer membership. With approximately 10,000 trained volunteers located in over 240 units throughout the state, SES is now responsible for the control of operations including evacuation of effected communities following floods and for damage control following severe storms".
"In a state as flood prone as New South Wales, the community looks to the State Emergency Service for immediate assistance. As floodwaters rise, hundreds of SES volunteers are rostered for duty. Operations Centres are staffed, information assessed and emergency relief directed to areas where it is needed. If required, flood boat crews carry out rescues and evacuations and transport urgently needed supplies of food and medicine to isolated areas."
"Following a severe storm, SES units are again called on. It could be to carry out a life saving rescue operation, remove a fallen tree from a house or fix a tarpaulin to a damaged roof".
Locally, the Lightning Ridge SES is called upon to carry out these tasks in the area.
Lightning Ridge is generally immune to local flooding as it is built on the high ridges of the area and it is quite a distance to the nearest river, however Lightning Ridge's supply line does get cut off in a big flood and the SES may be called upon to organise supplies or to relieve other SES units in neighbouring flood prone towns. Assistance was given to neighbouring SES units as recently as 1998 when the Walgett area was inundated with floodwater. The Lightning Ridge flood boat and a crew were supplied to assist Walgett crews who were kept busy during a prolonged sandbagging operation.
Lightning Ridge is well known for its spectacular lightning displays during the storms that frequent the area during summer. Occasionally storms producing high winds may damage the roof of a camp in the mining fields and the SES may be called upon to assist. Occasionally the SES may be called upon to clear a fallen tree that has fallen during a storm.
The information in commas was taken verbatim from State Emergency Service of NSW general information leaflet. Local content supplied by Unit. |
