Singleton State Emergency Service (SES) were hot on their heels on Friday evening as a large thunderstorm with heavy lightning struck the town at approximately 7:30pm. The initial job call was to a fallen tree located on Queen street which was followed by another 23 calls to similar jobs in the downtown and Whittingham locations.
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Twenty of the calls were for fallen and damaged trees and the other four for damaged roofs. Unit Commander of Singleton SES Tim Merrick said the five teams work tirelessly until 3:30pm the following Saturday.
"Crews worked from that initial 7:30pm call right through until 2:30am and then were back again the following day at 6am and worked until all jobs were complete by Saturday afternoon," said Mr Merrick.
Queen Street, Boundary Street, Bishopgate Street, Kent Street, High Street and Burdekin Park were the most affected areas with Police, Ambulance, Fire and Rescue, Ausgrid and the SES on site to assist in the recovery.
"It was a multi-agency effort with police directing traffic, the FRNSW and Ausgrid handling the electrical wires, ambulance in attendance as an initial report indicated that a person was trapped in a vehicle and SES clearing the trees and damaged roofs."
At one stage, six emergency service vehicles occupied Queen Street, the most affected of them all. Singleton Council crews spent Monday morning cleaning up felled tree branches and debris as a result of the storm.
Crews responded immediately on Friday night to clear roadways and parking lanes, but the community is urged to be mindful that verges, footpaths and parks may still be affected as the clean up continues. Under the provisions available to the Mayor in the Local Government Act (1993), Council is extending assistance to property owners in the clean up.
Fees and charges at the Waste Management Facility will be waived for greenwaste for addresses in the Singleton downtown area as a result of the storm event until close of business on Sunday 6 December 2020. Proof of address is required.
"A big thank you to our SES members who helped assist with these jobs, some members assisted the entire 21 hours of operations which is incredible and also thank you to the Singleton community for their patience and gratitude for our work," Mr Merrick continued.
The Singleton SES are set to be recruiting new members in the new year.
When a storm is predicted, the State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move your car under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
- Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
- If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
- Unplug computers and appliances.
- Avoid using the phone during the storm.
- Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.