Generators arriving for Victoria storm victims

Troops and Victorian emergency officials have begun delivering generators to families left for days without power.

Troops and Victorian emergency officials have begun delivering generators to families left for days without power in storm-ravaged parts of the state, as concerns mount that debris from the shock weather event could become fuel in the next bushfire season.

Australian Defence Force personnel along with VICSES and CFA volunteers began delivering 200 generators over the weekend, and 80 homes have so far been assessed as eligible.

ADF Lieutenant Colonel Scott D’Rozario said about 50 generators had been distributed, and teams comprising army, navy and air force officers had been deployed in the Dandenong Ranges, Gippsland and the Greater Ballarat area.

“It’s really good to be part of the community and helping the government achieve getting them (residents) back to normalcy,” he said.

Residents without power are urged to contact the community service organisation Windermere, which is prioritising the distribution of generators.

More than 600km of road in the Dandenong Ranges has been cleared and 438 roads reopened after storms hit on June 9, downing trees and power lines, causing widespread chaos and destruction.

Acting Minister for Police and Emergency Services Danny Pearson said more than 1000 emergency officials were working with the Australian Defence Force, and Bushfire Recovery Victoria had established a presence in the Yarra Ranges, Latrobe and Trentham and Mount Macedon areas, which were the worst affected.

“We know how incredibly difficult the recovery phase of a natural disaster can be. We’ll make sure that process is community-led and as fast and streamlined as possible,” he said.

Two people died in the storms and more than 20,000 were left without power, while 170 homes were deemed uninhabitable.

Yarra Ranges mayor Fiona McAllister said a hub at the Kalorama Oval clubhouse that provided hot showers and device charging had received more than 3500 visits, while the Salvation Army had provided 4000 hot meals since the storms.

She said another concern was the storm debris becoming a fire risk in the next bushfire season as fallen trees dry out and become fuel in the warmer months.