Extreme weather events have lifted south-west SES call-outs by 20 per cent

SES volunteers have attended more call-outs than through its 70-year history during the 2019-2021 COVID-19 years, despite most Victorians being in some form of lockdown/restrictions.

South-west region units responded to 6033 call-outs during the period July 1, 2019, through to June 30 this year - 20 per cent more than the previous two years.

Warrnambool acting controller Stephen Bakker said the call-outs had lifted due to severe weather events.

"In 2019 we had significant rain events which led to flooding," he said.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests that more extreme weather, involving rain and high winds, has led to more falling trees and building damage.

"Before each storm season, from winter through to about this time of year, we have preparedness sessions focusing on winds, storms and floods.

"It's during winter and particularly spring when we get changeable weather and high winds."

Warrnambool SES safety officer Emily McCullagh is encouraging women to join the 35-person strong volunteer unit.

She said it was a great way to support the community and the range of operations was diverse - from storms and floods to searches for missing people.

On Friday SES chief executive officer Stephen Griffin visited the Warrnambool SES unit station.

"Volunteers have played a critical role in supporting Victorians and the state's other emergency services during a period of enormous stress in the community," he said.

"The volunteers have experienced the same challenges of working from home, remote schooling and the physical and mental impacts of lockdowns as the rest of the community, and we applaud their continued support of Victoria's emergency services so magnificently during COVID.

"Some of the extreme weather events and storms we have experienced in Victoria over the past two years are no doubt a factor in the significant increase in requests for assistance.

"The SES is a trusted resource for Victorians and it is gratifying to have been able to provide help and peace-of-mind during these unprecedented times.

"Notwithstanding a small decline in regional volunteers, we have experienced a steady level of resourcing in recent years, with a small increase in Melbourne.

"It's also encouraging to see a significant increase in the number of women in unit management team roles, demonstrating some of the gender diversity gains we have achieved in recent years."

Statewide, SES volunteers and staff attended 74,535 calls for help in the same period - a massive 27 per cent increase compared with the previous two year

From severe weather and storms, to tornados and an earthquake, volunteers have been busy.

The storm on the evening of June 9 this year lashed the Dandenong Ranges, Macedon Ranges and many other areas which led to the busiest period in SES' history with over 10,000 calls for help in the days that followed.

Last year, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed two separate weather events in Horsham and Waurn Ponds, as tornado events.

With a huge clean-up effort following and volunteers across the south to mid-west responded to almost 300 related calls for help.

On Wednesday September 22 this year, volunteers responded to over 150 calls for help, after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake at a 10 kilometre depth hit the state, with the epicentre recorded near Mansfield.

Together, volunteers and staff logged over 500,000 hours in the 12 months to June 30.

Of the 503,427 hours spent responding to calls for help, 408,139 were for storms, 46,751 were to assist other emergency services, 18,617 were for floods, 12,022 were for road rescues, and 6767 were for other rescues.

Women now account for about 35 per cent of SES personnel, 1506 people, which has been a significant increase during the past 10 years.

Of the 146 unit controllers, 34 are women, of the 368 deputy controllers, 113 are women and of the 464 unit officers, 161 are women.

For more information, or if you're interested in volunteering with VICSES, please visit, https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.

SES assistant chief officer Nicholas Cowham said with above average rain expected, there were basic steps Victorians could take to mitigate damage from storms, floods and high winds.

He said securing items around the house, clearing out gutters and having a contingency plan were useful.

For more information on how to plan and prepare, please visit our website, ses.vic.gov.au/plan-and-stay-safe.

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