FOLLOWING the weekend’s wild weather Mandurah State Emergency Service (SES) manager Chris Stickland is reminding Peel residents to be prepared for the upcoming winter.
On Saturday and Sunday the Mandurah SES received 22 call-outs, helping residents with fallen fences, ceilings and trees as well as flooding.
“We had two teams going full bore over the weekend,” Mr Stickland said.
“Two patios were flipped, there were trees fallen on roofs and we even lost our fence.”
Mr Stickland, who has been a volunteer with the SES for more than 30 years, said the main priority was to make sure people were prepared for wild weather through the SES’s WinterSafe campaign.
“If people are prepared it stops unnecessary visits,” he said.
“Things such as flooding from blocked gutters or removing branches away from homes.
“Often over summer contractors come out to homes and can forget to put tiles back after they have removed them or have cracked tiles when standing on them. This goes unnoticed until the wet weather arrives.”
Mr Stickland said these things can be looked at now.
Despite hoping for a calm winter season this year, Mr Stickland said last year from May to October state-wide the SES attended more than 1150 requests.
“It is important people take steps now to prepare for the stormy season,” he said.
For tips and checklists on being storm safe or if anyone would like to volunteer with the SES go to mandurah ses.org.au
For assistance from the SES call 132 500.