It was a rough couple of days for many parts of New South Wales, with gale force winds and heavy rainfall hitting Sydney, Illawarra, and parts of the South Coast.
NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) volunteers responded to more than 1,400 calls for help, with the majority coming from communities in Shellharbour, Albion Park, St Georges Basin, Blue Mountains and Ku-ring-gai.
The service's Shellharbour City Unit was the busiest over the whole event, having received 320 requests for assistance after their local area was hit hard by damaging winds and rainfall. Wind gusts of up to 120km per hour were recorded in the area over night (23 August), which caused roofs to be damaged and ripped off houses, and trees to fall. Storms like the one we have just experienced are a timely reminder that storms can happen at any time of the year. It is also a reminder that storms are not always heavy rain and floods but can also involve damaging winds. NSW SES volunteers will be continuing the clean-up efforts from the storms and continue to support communities. Communities right across the state are encouraged to be prepared ahead of storms and be aware of their risks. There are eight simple things you can do now to prepare your home and reduce the potential for damage caused by severe storms, including: · Maintain your yard and balcony. Secure or store items that could blow around in strong winds · Clean your gutters, down pipes and drains regularly to prevent blockages · Trim trees and branches that could potentially fall on your home or property · Fix any damage to your roof, including broken or missing tiles · Check your insurance policy is current and adequate · Make a Home Emergency Plan for your family that outlines what you would do in an emergency · Prepare an emergency kit with essential items in case you lose power or need to leave home in an emergency · Listen to your local radio station and other media for weather warnings. |
