Prepare for wild-weather condition in Coastal communities
Sunday 30th December 13:44:28 EST 2007
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts has urged residents in coastal areas to be prepared for the onset of wild weather over the next week.
Mr Roberts said that coastal communities the length of Queensland should take heed of Bureau of Meteorology warnings that a low pressure system which is developing in the Coral Sea will bring rain, severe winds and abnormally high tides.
"The Queensland coastline looks set for a period of wild weather conditions over the next week," Mr Roberts said.
"Only time will tell how severe it will be, but I urge everyone to take basic precautions which can help to protect lives and property”.
Basic precautions include:
* Ensure your home and contents insurance covers storm surge, flooding and cyclone damage, including clean-up and debris removal;
* Check that the walls, roof and eaves of your home are secure;
* Clear your property of loose material that could blow about and possibly cause injury or damage during extreme winds
* Where practical, ensure windows are fitted with shutters or metal screens; and
* Trim overhanging tree branches and clear gutters of leaves and debris.
Mr Roberts also said boaties should heed local advice before leaving harbour.
"Experience shows that most boat rescues stem from preventable factors such as flat batteries, low fuel and mechanical problems," Mr Roberts said.
"Before leaving the shore boaties should ensure they have enough fuel, fresh water and safety equipment on board. Radio communications should also be checked before leaving. Lives can depend on these simple measures."
Emergency Management Queensland will closely monitor events in the Coral Sea over the next 24 hours.
For more helpful hints on how best to protect life and property during a cyclone check out the websites, www.disaster.qld.gov.au or for the latest advice go to www.bom.gov.au.
Emergency Management Queensland
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Wild Weather approaches Fraser Island
Sunday 30th December 13:44:28 EST 2007
Wind gusts of up to 110km/h are expected to hammer parts of Fraser Island today as an intensifying low pressure system moves closer to the coast.
The low, located about 500km off the island's Sandy Cape, will continue generating severe conditions, with the weather bureau issuing a severe weather warning for the state's southern coastline.
Ocean swells are reaching five metres off the central and southern coast and winds are gusting to 90kmh at Double Island Point, north of Brisbane.
However, severe conditions will peak on tonight, with Fraser Island expected to bear the brunt.
Winds are expected to increase with wind gusts up to 110km/h on the east coast of Fraser Island, and up to 90km/h in exposed coastal areas between Double Island Point and Cape Moreton.
Campers have already been evacuated from Fraser Island's east coast on orders from the Queensland government.
Tourists staying at the popular island's various resorts and campers stationed at protected inland and west coast sites were not required to evacuate.
Residents south of Rockhampton, including the Capricorn and Bunker groups, and those on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts have also been warned of dangerous surf and damaging winds.
The State Emergency Service urged residents to stay well away from the water's edge following reports of people on Saturday being swept into deep water while wading in the shallows.
The wild conditions are expected to remain along Queensland's southern coastline for at least another week.
A strong wind warning has also been issued for residents between Cooktown in the far north to St Lawrence in central Queensland.
Beaches on the Gold Coast could be closed until after New Year's Eve, with three-metre waves and 20-knot winds creating dangerous conditions.
Gold Coast lifeguard Scott Franzmann said beaches would remain closed until the weather improved.
"It has picked up from yesterday so it may in fact increase a little more tomorrow," Mr Franzmann told ABC radio.
"[But] hopefully it'll drop off and people can get back in the water again."
Brisbane City Council has also urged residents to stay away from large trees in the city's parklands amid concerns those weakened by the prolonged drought will be toppled by strong winds.
"Unfortunately a legacy of this drought that we've had is that many of the trees have become brittle and weakened, and there is a big risk that they would either lose branches or possibly even collapse altogether," councillor Margaret de Wit said.
Sunshine Coast Daily
SE Qld storms cause millions of dollars damage
Wednesday 10th October 18:19:31 EST 2007
Wild weather has caused more damage north of Brisbane today, with State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers still cleaning up from last night's dramatic thunderstorms.
Emergency Management Queensland says there have been 40 new calls for help this morning from homes and businesses with roof damage.
Energex crews are working to restore power to 28,000 consumers, mainly in the Caboolture and Redcliffe areas north of Brisbane.
Residents are advised to move cars under cover and away from trees, beware of fallen powerlines, and avoid using phones during thunderstorms.
There has been up to $7 million in hail damage to three car yards at Beaudesert, inland from the Gold Coast.
Car salesman Mark Heubner says the hailstones were the size of golf balls when they hit the area yesterday afternoon.
He says insurance assessors have today inspected his car yard and about 90 per cent of his $3.5 million worth of stock unable to be repaired.
"It's past the stage of panel beating or dint doctors," he said.
"It's really dented all the cars and broken windscreens broken mirrors.
"Just looking down the sides of cars it's come down with so much power there's not a panel on the car that hasn't been touched."
A severe thunderstorm warning remains current across much of Queensland.
ABC Queensland
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Missing Man's boy scout skills helped save him
Friday 28th September 15:00:39 EST 2007
Missing Buderim man Robert Shiels reverted to his boy-scout days until he found the strength to find his way out of bushland at Bribie and to a phone box on Woorim.
Robert’s wife Karen and children Adam and Lisa said they were “over the moon’’ to hear from Robert when he called home this morning.
“I can’t remember what time he called but he said he was on Woorim at a phone box then the phone went dead,” Karen said.
“We called the police and they said they would pick him up.
“We were running around the house like mad people. It was such a relief to hear him but he sounded tired and exhausted.”
Karen said Robert had received a call from a customer on Bribie Island on Monday and had decided to drop in on his way to Brisbane.
“He wanted to have a short break so he went to Woorim to have a look at the beach,” Karen said.
“He said he saw a sign which pointed to a freshwater lagoon creek and on the way he fell over and hurt his back.”
Karen said he had hurt his back in the past and knew if he stayed still he would be able to move again.
“He could hear the surf but must have been walking parallel to it,” Karen said.
“He found a tent in the bush and held up there until he could make it.”
Adam said that was when his dad reverted to the scouting days.
“There were a lot of mosquitos around and during the day he was swatting them so they would stay out the tent,” Adam said.
“He used sticks to keep the sides down and wrapped his hanky around a pile of sticks for a pillow.”
This morning, Robert waited for the sun to rise and then followed it to the beach.
Karen and Robert will celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary on Saturday.
“It was the best present I could ask for,” Karen said.
Robert is recovering in Caboolture Hospital and was on a re-hydration drip as he had nothing to eat or drink since Monday.
The family thanked everyone for their support especially the police, SES and the community.
Damien - Contact
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Missing man found on Bribie Island
Wednesday 2tth September 21:50:00 EST 2007
 A Buderim man missing since Monday has been found injured, confused and disorientated on Bribie Island.
Police searching the area found Robert Shiels, 51, when he emerged from thick bushland at the northern end of the island just after 7.30am.
He has been taken to Caboolture Hospital, where his wife Karen, daughter Lisa, son Adam and grandchild Andie have been reunited with him.
Police are still investigating how he became lost in the scrub.
A spokesman said the bushland was so dense, you could not see another person standing one metre away.
He said Mr Shiels had suffered injuries to his back and arm, and was disorientated and dehydrated.
Police, the coastguard, Queensland Parks and Wildlife and SES have conducted an extensive search for Mr Shiels after his distraught wife reported him missing on Monday.
They held grave fears for the loving father, who failed to keep a 1pm appointment in Brisbane on Monday.
At a media conference yesterday, Karen Shiels and the couple’s two children pleaded for him or anyone who knew where he was to make contact.
“We don’t know anything,” Mrs Shiels said in the tearful plea.
“If anyone knows anything, please help us find him. He’s truly a good man and we need him back.
"He kissed me goodbye and I said 'I will see you at dinner time' and he said 'Yes'. I have not seen him since.''
The couple had planned to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary tomorrow, and his family said yesterday they had no idea why he had disappeared.
Mr Shiels was last seen leaving a Forest Glen work appointment at 10am on Monday, and his car was found locked at the Woorim Surf Life Saving Club car park on Bribie Island the following morning.
His family could not offer any reason why he would go to Bribie Island, instead of Brisbane, where he was headed for the work appointment.
Damien - Contact
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Sunshine Coast Floods
Saturday 25th August 20:25:19 EST 2007
Caboolture SES sent a team of 4 Members up for the night to assist with the flooding in the Noosa region.
Up to 700 millimetres of rain fell on the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay regions over the past few days as a low-pressure system moved across south-east Queensland. Overnight about 150 calls were recieved requesting assistance, including a rescue from a house on the north shore by the Redland floodboat team.
Emergency Management Queensland is coordinating the response, with the focus on the towns of Tewantin and Noosaville, where floodwaters are rising fast.
Around 200 State Emergency Service (SES) workers are responding to calls for help with fallen trees and leaky rooves.
Weather bureau spokesman Vikash Prasad says there have been massive falls across the dry south-east, including Somerset dam, west of Brisbane.
"Rainbow Beach [received] 820 millimetres, Noosa 614, [but] sadly the Wivenhoe catchment had only 30 millimetres," he said.
"The good news is the upper reaches of the Somerset dam catchment area had 150 millimetres."
Further north in the Wide Bay-Burnett area, the severe weather has caused widespread blackouts and more than 30 roads have been cut by flooding.
The bureau says the heavy rain will ease later tonight but the flooding will continue until Sunday.
Damien - Contact
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Farm Fantastic 2007
Monday 23rd July 12:21:19 EST 2007
Preparation began for SES on thursday with the delivery of the EOC box and picking up of various equipment.
It was all hands on deck friday morning setting up the vehicle exit runway and the TC points on pumicestone road. Although it was slow for most members they were able to visit the sites inside and some got a ride in the helicopter.
Business picked up in the afternoon on all three days as the number of parked cars exceded last years count. Estimated cars on saturday were between 5500 and 6000. But as always, the car park was cleaned out well before the allocated time of the TC permit.
 The public support on sunday during the collection of donations was overwhelming as we raised $1,957.50 over approximatly 4 hrs.
For our participation in these large events to go smoothly all groups become involved and the donation from the organisers is divided on a scaled formula based on the number of members of each group and hrs worked.
Again thank you to all the members that attended and be ready for Farm Fantastic 2008.
Brian - Contact (DLC)
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New SES Number 132500
Monday 2nd July 14:39:21 EST 2007
Phone 000 for police, fire or ambulance
The SES has a new state-wide emergency callout telephone number. 132 500 is for members of the public who require SES assistance in a flood or storm emergency, anywhere in Queensland.
• 132 500 is now the only number the public needs to call for SES flood or storm emergency assistance. 132 500 replaces a range of callout numbers including local SES Unit numbers.
• Calls to 132 500 from landline phones are automatically diverted to the local SES Unit or an emergency communications centre, where a trained call-taker will note the details and dispatch the local SES Unit to the incident.
• People phoning from near the Queensland border, or from a mobile phone, may be required to identify the State they are calling from before their call is directed to the local SES Unit or an emergency communications centre.
• As there are often a large number of calls for assistance during severe storms and floods, the SES Unit may phone you to discuss the nature of your incident to help prioritise workload.
• The SES volunteer teams will provide temporary emergency assistance to help people protect themselves or protect their property from further damage. They assist in such circumstances as: trees down on a building, damaged roofs, rising flood water, general building damage, trees down and blocking access, and any storm damage that may be a threat to life or property.
• The role of the SES volunteer team is to make the scene safe. It is up to the property owner to arrange for the removal of debris and permanent repairs.
• 132 500 is the cost of a local call in Queensland (mobiles may be higher).
• 132 500 is for SES flood and storm emergency assistance only. Phone triple zero (000) for police, fire or ambulance in a life-threatening emergency.
• SES Units can still be contacted with general queries on their non-emergency number.
• SES office numbers for administrative enquires remain unchanged.
Damien - Contact
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Siege at Ningi
Monday 15th July 07:00:00 EST 2007
Bribie Island group responded 7 members to a siege in Ningi for lighting and welfare on request of the Queensland Police from 1700hrs until 0030hrs.
A 49-year-old man is due appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court today, after a 12 hour stand-off at Ningi, east of Caboolture. Police were called to the man's house on Bribie Island Road about 11:30am AEST yesterday, where the man had allegedly barricaded himself inside with a shotgun. An emergency situation was declared about 2:45pm and residents in the area were evacuated. The man was finally arrested about 11:30pm after specialist officers stormed the house. He has been charged with unlawfully possessing a weapon and dangerous drugs.
Damien - Contact
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Siege at Ningi
Monday 15th July 07:00:00 EST 2007
Bribie Island group responded 7 members to a siege in Ningi for lighting and welfare on request of the Queensland Police from 1700hrs until 0030hrs.
A 49-year-old man is due appear in Caboolture Magistrates Court today, after a 12 hour stand-off at Ningi, east of Caboolture. Police were called to the man's house on Bribie Island Road about 11:30am AEST yesterday, where the man had allegedly barricaded himself inside with a shotgun. An emergency situation was declared about 2:45pm and residents in the area were evacuated. The man was finally arrested about 11:30pm after specialist officers stormed the house. He has been charged with unlawfully possessing a weapon and dangerous drugs.
Editor - Contact
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Currently Training!!
Saturday 26th May 13:39:54 EST 2007
Every Wednesday night Caboolture Unit SES (Caboolture Group, Deception Bay Group & Bribie Island Group) conduct general training. This training is to keep us all up to speed in our techniques, and learn new things. Currently we are runing through what is known as "General Rescue" this is the base of all SES tasks, it includes all areas of rescue and the use of rescue equipment.
This General Rescue module is aligned with the National State/Territory Emergency Services Competency Standards, which means that the skills and knowledge you develop while doing this module will be recognised in other states and territories.
Editor - Contact
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Back home, and satisfied
Tuesday 12th June 07:39:54 EST 2007
 The Caboolture SES Unit State Rescue Team returned from Cairns yesterday afternoon, all reports back indicate a well done weekend, 5 out of 6 of the Caboolture SES Unit members had never competed in a Competition, and this year they debuted at 5th place.
The winning place was taken out by Caloundra, it was a well deserved win for them, they competed well and after a few years of trying to get to first place they did so, Well done Caloundra from all on the Caboolture team.
The Next Comp is to be held on the North Coast in 2009, Watch out Caloundra, maybe if we get in more than 4 weeks real training we might be able to take that off you!
Editor - Contact |
