Media release from
www.ses.sa.gov.auSA SES deploying staff to assist VIC SES
10 February 2009
The South Australian State Emergency Service (SES) is offering support to their Victorian counterparts as they work towards defending and rebuilding their state. Two specialist incident managers travelled to Melbourne overnight to relieve and support exhausted SES crews in Victoria.
SES Chief Officer Stuart Macleod says the SES often plays a key role in supporting other emergency service organisations, and there is a firm agreement in place between the SES in all states and territories that they assist and support each other in times of need.
“SES volunteers in Victoria have been assisting the Victorian fire agencies in staging areas across state, providing staging area managers, crew and lighting towers.
“As well as assisting in the fire operations, taskforces have been deployed to assist with loss and damage assessment, traffic management points and clearing trees from roadways.
“Volunteers have also assisted in relocations and have been supporting with the coordination of immediate relief arrangements as well as with community warnings and information, food delivery and fire support.
“The SES organisations throughout the country have a long history of helping each other. In 2007 the SA SES sent 140 staff and volunteers to assist with storms that ravaged NSW and have also sent support personal as part of SA Country Fire Service deployments to bushfires.
“The SA SES personnel will be based at the Victorian multi-agency centre in Melbourne where they will work with other emergency service personnel in an integrated emergency management centre.
“This deployment demonstrates how highly regarded SA SES volunteers and staff are within the SES family across Australia.
"The SES is one big family and we work together. If South Australia was faced with such a disaster I know our interstate colleagues would be right here with us, helping us protect and defend what is important to us."
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For SES response in storms or floods telephone 132 500. If the matter is life threatening telephone 000
For further information on the services provided by the SES go to
www.ses.sa.gov.auFor media enquiries telephone the SES Media Line on (08) 8211 6176