Noosa State Emergency Service volunteers answered the call from flood-ravaged North Queensland to assist, with about eight local SES officers putting their jobs and lives on hold to head north to lend a hand, and more to follow this week.
Noosa SES local controller Warren Kuskopf said Noosa SES officers joined 200 SES volunteers across Queensland and 100 interstate to go to their aid.
“We put the call out to members who were able and available to go,” he said. “They stepped up for five days and were based in Townsville, Ingham, Tully and Cardwell.”
Mr Kuskopf said each member to volunteer was employed full time in Noosa so despite the imposition each of their employers gave them permission to take time out.
During their time the SES crew helped by conducting welfare checks, placing tarps on damaged roofs, sand bagging, removing fallen trees, delivering medical supplies and helping with flood recovery.
“It’s powerful for residents when someone knocks on their door and says there’s help for them if they need it,” he said.
Mr Kuskopf said team members were skilled with a range of capabilities for flood boat operations, rescue, tree damage, height capabilities and first aid as well as good welfare skills.
The area had been hit with more than two metres of torrential rain leaving behind flooding, fallen trees, power cuts and damage to buildings.
Mr Kuskopf said conditions were gruelling with high temperatures, high humidity and everything contaminated from flooding but the Noosa team met the challenge.
“We had really good reports of how compassionate, thoughtful, considerate and appropriate they were,” he said.
Mr Kuskopf said sending SES volunteers away was a difficult call which could leave the local area vulnerable.
“It only takes one bad storm and we’re in trouble,” he said.
But the experience gained and lessons learnt by local volunteers in a few days was “through the roof”
“They may not have had those learnings here over a number of years,” he said.
