Port Macquarie summer storm clean up underway with hundreds of SES jobs
SES crews have responded to more than 250 calls for help since the freak storm hit, with one from a woman whose roof blew off as she sheltered inside. Hear her story.
Mid-North Coast
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NSW SES crews from across the region have responded to more than 250 calls for help since a freak storm hit Port Macquarie on Friday afternoon, including one from a woman whose roof blew off while she was sheltering inside.
Local fantasy author Gemma Kirkman was inside her apartment along Hastings River Drive near the central business district when the storm hit around 3pm.
Witnesses described seeing what looked like a tornado coming across over the central business district from the Settlement Point area.
It was short-lived but extremely powerful, uprooting huge trees and sending roofs flying down the street.
Ms Kirkman said it was one of the most intense and frightening things she has ever experienced and feels incredibly lucky she walked away without a scratch.
“It was like I was living in one of my books. I was standing in the doorway to my hallway,” Ms Kirkman said.
“My living room went dark, my plants toppled over in the hail and wind and the roof just disappeared.
“It happened so quickly. I grabbed a few things and got out of there as quickly as I could.”
She is now staying with family and has no idea when she will be back in her apartment which is uninhabitable.
Like many other locals, Port Macquarie Mayor Peta Pinson has described the storm as a mini tornado although the technical term is a microburst where a localised column of cooling, sinking air (a downdraft) combines with a thunderstorm.
Lavinia and Barry Heseltine live in the apartment block right near the large fig tree on the town green which was badly damaged.
“It was all white – we couldn’t see or hear anything,” Mrs Heseltine said.
“Then I said to my husband I think that’s fresh wood.”
Mayor Pinson has confirmed that arborists had inspected the iconic tree and it can be saved.
In the hours following the storm, council took the extraordinary step of urging people to stay out of the CBD so emergency services could respond.
Several events planned for Saturday including Red Hot Summer – featuring Paul Kelly, Bernard Fanning and Missy Higgins — have been postponed.
Some locals fear Port Macquarie has a growing reputation for freak storms after the infamous Christmas tree fiasco, when a large Norfolk Pine, decorated with lights and large baubles, was hit by hail making headlines across the world.
By Monday morning, NSW SES crews had received 263 calls for assistance – mostly for damaged roofs and trees down.
SES crews came from as far south as Port Stephens up to Coffs Harbour and everywhere in between to help out.
The NSW SES has advised storm impacted residents that they will need to make their own arrangements to dispose of green waste generated by the storm.
“Our role is for our volunteers to make safe and waterproof storm damaged properties – NSW SES can not take away or mulch your green waste,” a statement on their Facebook page read.
No injuries have been reported.
Key roads have now reopened and services restored with some delays still in place on Bay Street between Park Street and Ballina Crescent as the clean up continues.
Mr Pinson noted a “freaky fact” in relation to the date of the storm being exactly three years to the day since a mini tornado hit the north shore area of Port Macquarie.
The Insurance Australia Group has been contacted for comment.
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