Winter storm prompts busy weekend for VICSES volunteers statewide

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers are calling on community members to stay prepared for further storms this spring, following the state’s most destructive wind event of the year at the weekend.

Over a 48-hour period from 1pm Friday, 29 August, VICSES volunteers were called to more than 1,800 requests for assistance in their communities after a series of storm fronts carrying damaging wind gusts of more than 100km/h swept across the state.

The storm cells, which impacted much of the state from Friday evening and into Saturday morning, saw VICSES volunteers called to respond to more than 1,400 reports of trees down, and over 300 calls relating to building damage.

An earlier weather system on Friday afternoon also saw widespread destruction, as well as several calls for SES assistance after trees or branches fell on community members and moving vehicles across the state.

Throughout Victoria, 130 VICSES units were actively responding to incidents in their communities during this time, with six different units responding to more than 50 RFAs each in the process.

VICSES’ South West region volunteers were kept busiest, responding to almost 400 RFAs during this period and accounting for three of the state’s six busiest units (Portland 88 RFAs, Warrnambool 62, Port Fairy 58), while VICSES Sorrento (75), Hastings (67) and Wangaratta (59) were also notably active.

Victorians are also being encouraged to remain aware of their surroundings over the coming days, as some trees or branches may have been partially damaged and prone to falling in the wake of the wind event.

Friday’s storm event came 367 days after a similar stretch of severe weather saw VICSES volunteers called to more than 8,000 RFAs over the final days of winter in 2024 and serves as a timely reminder for communities to remain prepared for storm events as we enter Victoria’s high-risk weather season.

Throughout spring and into the summer months, Victorians are encouraged to trim back any overhanging branches, clear gutters regularly and safely secure outdoor items such as furniture, trampolines and umbrellas if gusty winds are anticipated.

If severe storms are predicted, community members are encouraged to limit unnecessary travel where possible, and safely pull to the side of the road away from trees and gutters if conditions are dangerous.

It’s also important for community members to understand their own local flood risk, and become familiar with their town or suburb’s local flood guide to ensure they are ready to act in the event of a riverine or flash flooding event.

To learn more about how to prepare for a storm event, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/be-storm-smart.

Quotes attributable to Mark Cattell, VICSES State Agency Commander

“Our incredible VICSES volunteers have been working hard in recent days to triage and clear hundreds of requests for assistance in the wake of damaging winds, but it’s just as important our communities know how to prepare their property and limit their risk when a storm is forecast.

“Spring can often bring severe weather in the form of thunderstorms or significant wind events, often with limited notice, so it’s important Victorians take proactive action to reduce the likelihood of requiring a visit from our volunteers in orange.

“Simple things like trimming overhanging branches, clearing gutters, and securing loose items can make a world of difference in a storm event.”