By KATIE DE VERTEUIL
AN ORANGE army of State Emergency Service workers – wielding 5000 sandbags as their primary weapon – has come to the rescue of a cyclone-battered Noosa.
The shire experienced heavy rain leading to flash flooding in Pomona and other parts of the hinterland as the ex-tropical cyclone crossed through Noosa early Saturday morning.
SES volunteers spent their weekend filling those 5000 sandbags to help out.
Local Disaster Management Group Chair Bob Abbot said the coastal areas of the shire were spared the heavy downpour.
But unfortunately the hinterland was not so lucky, with the majority of rain falling there.
“Pomona copped a battering, receiving 210mm in the 24 hours to 7.30 on Saturday morning, while Noosa Heads received just 50mm in the same timeframe,“ Cr Abbot said.
“Cooran received 205mm, Cooroy 130mm and Tewantin 75mm.
“Factory Street in Pomona was underwater, with water lapping up to the Majestic Theatre.
“Minor flooding was also experienced in other areas across the shire, with around 25 roads affected by water.”
Despite Noosa’s hinterland copping a barrage of heavy rain, there was fortunately minimal damage overall.
That was thanks largely to the efficiency of emergency services, and particularly the orange army of the SES.
Depending on demand, there were up to 25 SES volunteers working alongside members of the Rural Fire Service, council, police and other emergency services to ensure homes were protected from threatening waters.
Noosa SES local controller Stan Ryan said while Mother Nature had been kind in lessening the cyclone’s blow by the time it reached the coast, the lack of damage was also largely due to preparation by emergency services, council and residents alike.
“We were lucky enough to have had sufficient preparation time before the cyclone hit and everyone got in early approaching us for sandbags which was really great to see,” Mr Ryan said.
He said there were no particular areas of Noosa affected by the downpour, with bags distributed across the region.
Apart from the major concern of threatening flood waters, SES received a few call-outs for leaking roofs in Cooran, Tewantin and Noosaville.
There were also a couple of trees downed as a result of the harsh winds, but overall the damage has been minimal.
“We had no reports of the water going into houses, which, while it doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen to some residents, indicates that nothing too drastic resulted from the cyclone,” Mr Ryan said.
Mr Ryan wished to remind residents that anyone unable to dispose of their sandbags was welcome to return them to SES Headquarters in Goodwin Street Tewantin, near the Tewantin State School over the next few days.
