QLD Floods: Almost 400 calls for help for SES

Flooding across the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley has seen almost 400 calls for help answered by SES and emergency services. DETAILS HERE

Toowoomba SES crews responded to almost 400 call-outs on the weekend due to rising flood levels.

SES Toowoomba Group controller Rachael Rowe said majority of the calls were sandbag related.

“The region had a total of 389 call-outs from Friday to Monday,” she said.

“Seventy-two per cent of them were flooded, so they were after sandbag help.

“There were about 24 per cent of calls that were structural, which would be needing assistance with roof tarping or the roof was leaking, or ceilings falling in.

“The rest were multiple options or both problems.”

RISING WATERS: Sandbags are seen outside The National Hotel as flood waters again inundated the Russell St business, Saturday, February 26, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Services confirmed nine swift water rescues were conducted across the south west, including Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, since February 22.

“You never really have enough (volunteers),” Ms Rowe said.

“We had on most days about 30 to 35 volunteers come in and help, but we also have six RFS crews on two days come in and help us with sandbagging jobs.

“Toowoomba Emergency Services Cadets came in and helped us fill sandbags as well.

“They were amazing.

“It really gave us the opportunity to send our members out onto the field to do the task, rather than standing here filling sandbags to take to the task.”

Ms Rowe said multiple locations across the Darling Downs were impacted by rising flood levels, with the teams dispatched across the region.

“Crows Nest had 15 tasks tasked to them. That’s a fair bit for a little community,” she said.

“Goombungee did some sandbagging jobs and so did Oakey.”

HELPING HANDS: SES Toowoomba Group local controller Rachael Rowe said her team of volunteers were amazing during the recent floods. Monday, February 28, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Ms Rowe said while the teams knew of the incoming weather, no one was ready for the deluge.

“At the end of last year, we knew the La Nina was coming, so we did huge storm preparedness, scenario-based training and had all of our calls up to date, so we were ready for when it did happen,” she said.

“The team is prepared in qualifications, but I don't think any of us were prepared for the amount of rain we got on Friday morning.

“We knew there was a lot of rain coming, but not that much in that short of time.

“You are never really fully prepared, but we were prepared skill wise.”

More than 300 roads remain inundated across the region by flood waters.

Visit thechronicle.com.au for the latest flood updates.