Another 22 Western Australian emergency services specialists have been deployed to assist in the flood response and recovery in New South Wales.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the new team will relieve the 22 emergency services staff and volunteers sent to the town of Moree earlier this week to help with the relief effort.
Six other local specialists were sent to Swan Hill in Victoria earlier this week, bringing WA's total emergency services personnel deployed to Eastern State communities devastated by recent floods to 50.
The latest team - who flew out of Perth this morning - consists of 15 State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers coming from units across the Goldfields-Midlands region, and the lower South-West.
Five SES volunteers are from metropolitan units, while two Department of Fire and Emergency Services staff are on hand to perform a liaison officer and team leader role.
The WA contingent will operate alongside NSW SES, who are co-ordinating the emergency response.
They will use their expertise in storm damage recovery while working alongside their Eastern States colleagues.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Once again, our local emergency services volunteers are prepared to answer the call and come to the aid of our fellow Australians in their time of need.
"Eastern States communities have been devastated by floods and NSW SES have issued a request for assistance from across the country.
"The McGowan Government is proud of the staff and volunteers who have put up their hands to join this major recovery effort.
"I wish the WA emergency services team safe travels and thank them again for their service and contribution to the community."
As stated by Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
"Sharing resources is vitally important in the response and recovery effort following natural disasters.
"The Eastern States' resources - particularly personnel - have been stretched because of the scope of the flood devastation, and our WA emergency services specialists will provide significant relief to the NSW SES.
"We are on standby - and willing to provide more assistance to other states if required - and I thank our staff and volunteers for the commitment to helping communities in need."
