NSW SES, NRMA Insurance warn Mosman homeowners to prepare for Sydney’s storm season

THE Mosman SES is encouraging homeowners to prepare for bad weather, as new data shows Mosman was the 10th most storm-affected Sydney suburb in 2015/16.

Members of Mosman SES unit at Balmoral Beach. Pictured, Pragash Santi, Ron Gallagher, Harriet Virgona, James Ball and Phillip Cleary. Picture: Jess Husband

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THE NSW State Emergency Service and NRMA Insurance are encouraging people to prepare their homes for the storm season, as new claims data shows Mosman was the 10th most storm-affected Sydney suburb last financial year.

An NRMA survey of 1006 Australians also found that only 23 per cent of residents in the northern Sydney region had prepared their homes for the storm season, despite their area being among the hardest hit in Sydney.

The storm season began in October and continues until March next year.

Mosman SES received 81 requests for help in just over two days during the June storm and volunteers managed their area without assistance from other SES units.

A fallen tree crushes a car after a storm in Mosman. Picture: Mosman SES

So far in 2016, the Mosman unit has received 133 requests for help, which is above average but not a record.

SES volunteer and media officer Pragash Santi said Mosman’s great natural environment was one factor in the suburb’s higher level of storm damage.

“There are many mature trees both lining the streets and within properties, together with a correspondingly large number of houses with old and fragile tile roofs,” he said.

Mr Santi said storm damage occurred mainly on private land with trees down or roofs damaged.

“Homeowners are a bit surprised when it happens, but they are not sure how they could avoid it,” he said.

“We advise people to check their gutters and roof, check their insurance and trim overhanging trees.”

Mosman SES is always looking for new members. Picture: Jess Husband.

Mr Santi has volunteered for the SES for nine years and said members included students, executives from large multinational companies, public servants, retirees, accountants, police officers, bankers, the self-employed and young mothers.

“We have about 32 members we can call on in a serious storm and we always need more,” he said.

Mosman SES volunteers train every Tuesday evening for about two hours and there are some weekend exercises.

Mr Santi said there were compulsory training courses such as safe driving, first-aid and using a radio.

A landslide at Taronga Zoo after a storm in Mosman. Picture: North Sydney Police

“Once trained, members are asked to be available for every incident they can given the constraints of family and work,” he said.

“Members can also choose what they wish to do.

“They can join a field team, which is mainly roof-climbing and chainsawing in Mosman, or be part of the operations team which runs our control and radio rooms during a storm.”

Mr Santi said the benefits of volunteering included doing something for your community.

“There’s camaraderie and professional training in many areas that could help people in their everyday working and home life,” he said.

Potential volunteers can call the NSW SES on 132 500 to get in touch with their local unit.

Visit stormsafe.com.au for advice on preparing your home for storms.

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