VICSES gets prepared for operation heatwave #2

Friday 6th Feb 09 

 

We have a number of EXTREME weather events predicted to happen in Vic!

 

I am not sure about the other heroes, but this is getting intense! 

 

It hits hard when news.com.au posts a story that says 'NSW melts, Victoria burns, Queensland sinks'  Is this going to happen every weekend????

This seems like a fortnightly occurrence in VIC! Its gone from extreme weather events occurring in one state at a time with long intervals in between events, then the intervals started to become shorter between states, and NOW they are all happening at the same time! Volunteer organisations across Australia are not going to cope when events hit each state at the same time and regularly. We are getting better at being prepared but lets also start amping up our rebuilding green approaches and THINK GREEN!!!

 

For some bizarre reason when i told my mum about this weekend she seems to think that this will happen while everyone is asleep and no one will know. Ok, its time for me to educate my mum on the link between CLIMATE change & EXTREME WEATHER!!!  

 

VICSES have sent all Units an operational readiness email (earlier in the week). As you may have read or seen on TV/internet Victoria is going to be experiencing yet another heat wave.  

 

I happen to be the Units Duty Officer this week, so i have put together a phantom roster for the Unit. Due to our fantastic preparedness and operational readiness skills we now have 2 full crews with chainsaw, rooftop and truck driving qualifications. Previous we struggled getting one crew together with me running the show from the Unit each time disaster hits. We have a number of members trained in the new VICSES incident management system and who are capable of running the crews and allocating jobs without my presence....how is that for succession planning!!! 

 

Get out there and get some of these skills if your not a volunteer....we could use some radio operators, OH&S, first aid....everything helps! 

 

BOM issued the following on Thurs: 

Severe Weather Warning
for damaging winds
for people in the Alpine Areas, Western, North Central, Wimmera, Central, West and South Gippsland, East Gippsland and Northeast forecast districts.

 

Damaging winds are forecast for Saturday across parts of the Alpine Areas, Western, North Central, Wimmera, Central, West and South Gippsland, East Gippsland and Northeast forecast districts. North to northwesterly winds averaging 50 km/hr with wind gusts to 90 km/hr will shift southwesterly at a similar strength behind the front. 

 

As i have mentioned in my previous blog entries, this is another freak weather event...... and there have been a number of extreme weather events during Jan and Feb that are extremely close together. VICSES also put out a media release for the expected fires! After enduring more than four days of above 40 degree temperatures last week, Victoria is extremely vulnerable to fires ahead of more extreme conditions later this week. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is forecasting temperatures in the high 30’s and low 40’s for Friday and Saturday with strong winds and minimal humidity – extreme fire weather.CFA, DSE and MFB are appealing to all Victorians to understand the situation as we head into extreme fire conditions with unprecedented dryness across all parts of Victoria. 

 

Ok this is abit too long so will end it there and provide updates throughout the day. BOM are due to issue another warning at 1700hrs today. 

Opps there goes my pager with another severe weather warning from VICSES state operations officer Tucek!

 

Au revoir  

 

 

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