By Renee Wood
The extreme weather event is being felt in the Yarra Valley with emergency crews attending calls for incidents across the region.
The Healesville SES crew has been called to flash flooding, landslips, trees down, damaged homes and water rescues.
Healesville SES Unit Controller Andrew Worley said the first job came through at 5am Thursday 13 October and it hasn’t slowed down for crews.
“It’s been a real mixture – we’ve had a lot of trees down over roads causing traffic hazards, we’ve had building damage and flash flooding into houses,” Mr Worley said.
There has been several road closures with many still remaining due to flooding, while a landslip also occurred overnight on Melba Highway in Dixons Creek and the road remains closed due to the debris.
“About half way up there was quite a large landslide so it blocked the entire road both lanes. It included a 20m tree coming down with the landslide.”
Mr Worley said crews have been called to five water rescues in the last 12 hours and would like to urge drivers to drive to the conditions and avoid roads underwater.
“Please don’t drive through flood water because it does also tie up emergency services that may need to be responding to other emergency jobs.”
Chief Officer Operations at Victoria State Emergency Service Tim Wiebusch said it’s disappointing to see people are still risking their lives driving through flood waters.
“We can’t emphassise enough not to drive through flood waters. In the last twenty four hours we’ve seen disappointingly more than two hundred water rescues,” Mr Wiebusch said.
“If we see further impacts in these coming days, were going to see more roads closed so please go to the Vicroads traffic website or app and make sure you’re planning your travel.”
Several homes have been affected by flash flooding in Healesville, Yarra Glen and Steels Creek due to the rain yesterday and gutters overflowing or damage through roofs.
Mr Worley said now’s the time to clean up your home and prepare for more rain while there’s a pause in the weather.
“Take the break in the weather to check properties, houses, drains get them unblocked so when the rain appears again there would be less risk of flash flooding causing damage and isolating them in their property.”
Healesville volunteers have also been assisting with sandbagging and if people are still in need, they are available from hardware stores or in an emergency SES will always respond and can provide sandbags.
“If you need sandbags and can’t get them or at immediate risk at flooding then we also have sandbags at our unit.”
If you’re in need of assistance from the SES call 13 25 00
