Operation Flood Assist: Townsville soldiers headed to WA to battle Kimberley flooding
Townsville soldiers have set off on a Two-and-a-half day journey to assist communities struggling in the face of one of WA’s worst ever floods.
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A rotary wing detachment from Townsville-based 5 th Aviation Regiment is expected to start providing aid to those affected by the devastating north west Western Australia floods by late Tuesday or early Wednesday next week.
Part of the detachment of 87 soldiers from the regiment left RAAF Base Townsville in two Chinook CH-47F and three MHR90 Taipan helicopters on Saturday for a two and a half day journey across the continent to Broome.
The remaining soldiers from the deployment will fly in a RAAF plane tomorrow (Sunday).
The flooding is the worst in WA’s history affecting the Kimberley region in the north west of the state caused by Ex Topical Cyclone Ellie.
Regiment commander Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lean said the soldiers and rotary wing assets werebeing deployed in Operation Flood Assist 23-1 following a request for assistance from the Western Australian Government.
“We are currently aware that the Fitzroy River is approximately 50 kilometres in width which is causing widespread damage to the communities over there,” the commander said.
“The aircraft will be working in that area.”
He said one of the expected tasks would be supplying towns and communities cut off in the floodwaters but the solders on deployment were also prepared for rooftop rescues if required.
Deployment commander Major Jeremy Costello said there was not time frame for how long the soldiers under his command would be providing assistance.
“We are just going over and are prepared to stay as long as needed to help people in need.”
He said his first task on reaching Broome would be to liaison with local authorities and emergency services to ensure that they get the best use of the helicopters once they arrive.
“This will ensure that we are getting out to the right places with the assets that we have.”
The major said soldiers from the regiment had learned valuable lessons after providing assistance during the recent Victorian and NSW floods.
“Every time we go out the door we always learn lessons and it speeds up our processes makes ussafer and better equipped to help the people in need.
“We are prepared for all the contingencies that we can foresee but the crews are prepared to rescue people of roofs but at the other end of it we are also ready deliver aid out to the people that requireit through the area.
“Everyone in the crews is immensely proud to go out and help people in their need and people inpossible one of the worst situations that they have been in so happy to go out and help them.”
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Originally published as Operation Flood Assist: Townsville soldiers headed to WA to battle Kimberley flooding
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