Mullumbimby SES gears up for extreme summer

MULLUMBIMBY NSWSES is gearing up for a demanding summer, with experts warning of heightened risks of extreme weather and natural disasters over the coming months.

Deputy unit commander Catherine Garvan said that after the devastating 2022 Northern Rivers floods and Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March, the team is prepared for whatever comes.

“The dams are full and the soil moisture is nearly 100 per cent, so it won’t take much,” she said.

“This will be our fifth year straight of predicted big events. We’re expecting another big summer, and that’s pretty unprecedented. I think it’s the new normal unfortunately.

“There used to be times when we weren’t as busy but climate change has certainly changed everything.

“Winter’s supposed to be our dry season but this year it wasn’t dry at all – we had jobs all the way through.”

Garvan said one of the biggest challenges throughout the Byron Shire this year isn’t rain, but wind.

“It’s been so windy and trees come down on people’s houses or block driveways,” she said.

Mullumbimby NSWSES has 65 members on its books, ranging in age from 16 to their 80s. But as not everyone is always available, the team is continually looking for new volunteers.

Garvan said specialised skills aren’t necessary, as training is provided.

“It’s an opportunity to give back to the community if you are able to and it’s rewarding work,” she said.

“You get to meet heaps of good people and you get trained in different skills.

“We have some young people who use it as a stepping stone to go into the police force, armed forces or a paid position at the SES.”

Volunteers can take on a range of roles, including sandbagging to protect properties, rescuing people from floodwaters and evacuating cars and homes, and clearing fallen trees and debris from roads and properties after storms and cyclones.

For those who prefer not to be on the frontline, there are also a variety of support roles such as operating radios and dispatching teams during emergencies, tracking resources, coordinating with other agencies, and setting up emergency shelters and aid distribution points.

Garvan joined in 2018 after coming across a stall at the markets. She rescued around 100 people from Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores, and South Golden Beach during the 2022 floods.

Garvan said it was extremely important that community members evacuate when asked. She also urged residents to monitor local weather alerts from the Bureau of Meteorology and download the Hazards Near Me NSW app to set watch zones for timely warnings.

Households can also prepare by clearing gutters, downpipes, and drains; inspecting roofs and fixing any damaged parts; trimming trees and overhanging branches; and ensuring insurance is up to date.

They should also develop a home emergency plan that everyone understands, including where to shelter, what to do if the power goes out, how to communicate and an evacuation route if needed.