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) has been deployed to NSW to help with the flood emergency there.
The Western Australians are expected to spend seven days in NSW, operating alongside the State’s SES which is coordinating the emergency response.
The WA SES volunteers will provide five Storm Damage Teams while the 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.
Minister for Emergency Services, Stephen Dawson said resource-sharing was crucial during these challenging times.
“We are on standby to supply further support as required to assist with the extensive recovery program for this natural disaster,” Mr Dawson said.
Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Services, Darren Klemm said the latest flooding disaster in NSW posed 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,” he said.
“Their vast experience in dealing with storm and flood damage will be crucial in keeping people in these flood-affected jurisdictions safe,” Commissioner Klemm said.
