Harden, Boorowa and Jugiong, like much of South Eastern New South Wales, have received a barrage of rain and wet weather in recent weeks, which has meant that SES crews all across the state have been kept busy with requests for help.
The Harden SES Unit is no exception, with the team sent out on many operations to rescue people who are stranded in precarious situations and help save properties from water damage.
The Murrimboola Creek which runs through Murrumburrah is overflowing due to the rain over the past few days, with some incredible shots taken of the water gushing freely downstream. Hilltops Council released a statement at 8.56am Tuesday 10 October regarding roadclosures.
“Following this afternoons storm there is currently water on the road surrounding Kingsvale and Harden. Please travel safely and if it’s flooded forget it. Roads/Causeways Closed: – Carrs Crossing on Coppabella Rd – Fairview Rd Causeway – Linden Rd Causeway (Stud Brook) Particular areas of concern with water over road: – Currawong Rd from Currawong Bridge to Harden. Currawong Rd is currently under traffic control. – Tiverton Rd off Barwang Rd at the first causeway. – Colorado Rd” Garry Buckley from the Harden SES Unit spoke about the crew’s latest operations across the region.
“We’ve been at the flooding at Boorowa again and we removed a person from Market Street as well.
We had crews on the campgrounds making sure everyone had moved their caravans. “We’ve also had some sandbagging jobs around Harden and Boorowa for water inundation.
Harden got slammed with storms on Monday night. “Someone had mentioned that they got about 40mm of rain due to the storms.
“We were activated for a flood rescue out at Rugby, with the Young SES helping with that. “We have had crews through Jugiong again, with one of our team members had come across a tree down, so they cleaned that up.”
Local SES Units have been on training courses recently to brush up their skills and knowledge on what to do during floods.
“We have also had members on a course for storm and flood damage over the weekend, with our members passing that course. It means Harden is better prepared now for storms and floods.”
“Council deals with flooded roads and close them as they see fit. The SES moto is ‘if it’s flooded, forget it. If a road is flooded turn around, don’t drive, don’t ride, don’t play in flooded water. You never know what’s underneath it.
“Because the grounds are so saturated at the moment, if there’s a forecast for storms or a warning goes out on the Facebook page, always have an alternative way to get home.
It’s good to have a second route just in case the roads are flooded. “If you get isolated with floodwater and see a storm coming, be sure to prepare the car with enough supplies beforehand to make sure everything’s okay.” Buckley wanted to thank the Harden SES Unit Commander Thomas Hogg on the outstanding job he has been doing amidst the floods.
“A big thank you to our commander and our Harden unit and other teams for the great work that they’ve been doing. They spend a lot of time helping the community and spending time away from their families. I don’t think people realise how often they are out on duty.”
Tim Warren
