Western Australia will send 22 emergency services specialists interstate this morning to help communities devastated by floods in New South Wales.
A task force of 20 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers from the Perth metropolitan area and two staff members from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) will be deployed for seven days. They will operate alongside the NSW SES which is co-ordinating the emergency response.
The SES volunteers will provide five Storm Damage Teams while DFES will provide the Task Force Leader and a Jurisdictional Liaison Officer. The Jurisdictional Liaison Officer will be stationed in SES headquarters in Wollongong, with the rest of the team based in Moree.
The WA contingent will play a critical role, using their vast expertise in storm and flood damage to help affected communities in their recovery from the natural disaster.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Western Australia has answered the call for assistance from NSW and our SES volunteers and DFES personnel have rallied to respond.
"Resource sharing is crucial during these challenging times, so the McGowan Government is always willing to provide resources as part of a national call for help.
"We are on standby to supply further support as required to assist with the extensive recovery program for this natural disaster.
"I thank our Western Australian emergency services personnel who have dropped everything to lend a hand to help those flood-affected communities in their time of need and I wish them all a safe journey."
As stated by Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
"This latest flooding disaster in NSW poses significant challenges so I am delighted that 22 WA emergency services specialists are heading interstate to lend assistance.
"Our team members will play a key role helping the NSW SES Incident Management Teams in the emergency response. Their vast experience in dealing with storm and flood damage will be crucial in keeping people in these flood-affected jurisdictions safe."
