Fire, storm ravaged towns could be off the grid for another two days

Several fire and storm ravaged communities are unable to call triple-0 and could remain off the grid for another two days, as authorities work to restore telecommunications in impacted areas.

Many Victorians remain disconnected from telecommunications after a week filled with storms and fires. Picture: POOL/ Justin McManus/NCA NewsWire.

Thousands of Victorians are unable to phone triple-0 as authorities work to restore communications to storm and fire ravaged areas.

At least six communities including Boolarra, Devon North, Kilcunda, Nyora, Port Albert and Woodside are unable to contact emergency services becasue of ongoing telecommunication issues.

Several storm and fire impacted areas remain disconnected and unable to make emergency phone calls Picture: Jason Edwards

Senior emergency services officials said as many as 28 communities had been affected but that number was revised down early on Friday.

They have been told it could take another 48 hours to restore services back to normal.

Multiple sources said prioritising the issue had been met with resistance by emergency management officials as they dealt with other critical issues as part of recovery efforts following power outages and bushfires which have wreaked havoc across the state.

“We are significantly concerned about the community and their safety,” one senior emergency services figure said.

It could take another two days to get telecommunications in the impacted towns back up and running. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

But Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said the priority was now to restore power in communities that can’t call Triple-0.

“Our priority has been for those communities that have been left without power and without telecommunications — those communities that can’t dial triple zero for example,” she said.

“The telcos are working very hard, the power companies are working very hard and we, at the state control centre, are making sure that where we think people might be off for longer, (that) we have got contingency in place and are putting all efforts in place.”

Ms Symes said two generators and a NBN truck had been brought into storm ravaged Mirboo North.

Justin Dunlop, director of emergency management for Ambulance Victoria, said people needing care in affected communities would need to self-present to hospitals or nearby emergency service stations.

“Time is of the essence and a health emergency,” he said.

“It’s really important that that message gets to those communities to seek care directly from an emergency department and seek help from their friends and family around them.

“If they’ve got a health care emergency, then at the moment what they need to do is get themselves to the closest emergency department, through family or friends or others in the area, because we will have no way of knowing that they’re in duress.”

People needing care in the impacted towns have been advised to get themselves to hospital Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Dunlop said care for non-urgent concerns could be dealt with at a local medical clinic or pharmacy.

Shadow minister for emergency services, Richard Riordan, said the situation was “completely unacceptable”.

“The Allan Government is responsible for maintaining Victoria emergency call line and must fix this urgently.”