Volunteers from the Redland City State Emergency Service (SES) unit have returned home after providing valuable boots-on-the-ground support to flood-impacted communities in outback Queensland.
Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell said 10 members of the unit were deployed in early April to bolster the emergency response across Longreach, Charleville, Thargomindah, Adavale and Jundah.
“The collaboration of the Disaster Management community is second to none. It is immensely reassuring to know support is offered when needed around the country,” the Mayor said.
“Extra boots on the ground in disaster situations is critical to keeping people safe, and I know the locals in these tight-knit outback communities appreciated the assistance from our crews.
“Given the scale of the flooding in many of these areas, it would have been reassuring for residents knowing there was a large number of emergency crews working for them on the front line.”
The Mayor said the SES assistance was critical in helping impacted residents get back on their feet.
“Alongside other agencies, the Redland volunteers assisted with cleaning out flooded homes, conducting welfare checks, and removing damaged furniture from commercial buildings,” she said.
“They also helped unload essential bulk food supplies delivered to the region by emergency helicopter, allowing for the quick distribution of these items to impacted residents.
“The agencies and groups the SES assisted during the deployment included Queensland Police, the Rural Fire Service, Royal Flying Doctor Service, and several councils across the various areas.
“The last of the deployed members returned back to Redlands Coast on Friday 18 April, giving them a well-earned break over the Easter long weekend.”
The Redland SES unit has clocked up thousands of kilometres of travel this year helping communities across the state in their time of need, while also providing assistance at home on Redlands Coast.
The outback Queensland flood response follows deployments for Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March, the North Queensland flood emergency in February, and the North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) bushfire in January.
“It has been an incredible effort from the team to pivot so quickly from one event to the next across what has been an extremely busy and volatile severe weather season,” the Mayor said.
“I’d also like to recognise our Redlands Coast Community Champions, who have worked side-by-side with the SES on a number of these events, including the deployment to North Queensland.
“We are privileged to have such a highly dedicated group of volunteers keeping our community and other communities across Queensland and Australia safe when disaster strikes.
“My thanks go out to both groups for their ongoing support and tireless service to the community.”
For information on becoming an SES volunteer, visit ses.qld.gov.au.
Redland City Council provides a suite of services to 166,873 residents and more than 63,000 residential households across Redlands Coast. Our naturally wonderful city on Quandamooka Country is home to more than 335 kilometres of coastline, six island communities and 12 mainland suburbs.
