General News
13 October, 2022
Emergency services prepare Carisbrook as water rises
Carisbrook residents concerned about flooding are being urged to act now, the SES has told residents this morning. Emergency services including SES, CFA and Victoria Police and the Central Goldfields Shire Council spoke at a packed Carisbrook Senior...
Carisbrook residents concerned about flooding are being urged to act now, the SES has told residents this morning.
Emergency services including SES, CFA and Victoria Police and the Central Goldfields Shire Council spoke at a packed Carisbrook Senior Citizens Hall this morning regarding the flood situation, where residents heard Carisbrook will experience riverine flooding — althoughit is unknown to whatextent.
While not open yet, relief centres will likely be set up in Maryborough to support elderly and vulnerable Carisbrook residents who are unable to relocate to a family member or friends' home.
SES north-west regional manager Sharon Unthank told residents this morning that there there was a "very real" chance Carisbrook would experience significant flooding.
"At this point in time, the things to look out for are if we see rain continue to fall and it gets over 65 millimetres in six hours, that's when the Pyrenees Highway at Carisbrook will overtop and the other trigger is 100 millimetres in 24 hours," she said.
"From our perspective, the reality is there is a very real chance the Pyrenees Highway will overtop and we will be looking at significant flooding in the town of Carisbrook.
"Our advice is to leave now. Don't wait until the water is lapping at your door because all that does is put additional stress on our local resources."
No evacuation order has been issued for Carisbrook residents at this stage and emergency services, including CFA, have not yet deployed but are prepared.
Carisbrook Fire Brigade Captain Ian Boucher said the town would experience riverine flooding to some extent and that the community would be kept informed.
"There is a 100 percent chance we will experience riverine flooding but to what extent, we do not know," he said.
"Before we think anything is going to happen, we will ring the community siren at the fire station for five minutes and people can come down and hear the latest information.
"If the siren goes off continually a second time for five minutes, that means an evacuation."
It is recommended that residents stay up-to-date on the situation with the VicEmergency App orhttps://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/and checkBureau of Meteorology weather forecasts.
If you require assistance from the SES, call 132 500 or in a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).