When the big floods hit Lismore this year, it was the State Emergency Service (SES) that the people of Lismore looked to for help.

So it might come as no surprise that since the floods, more locals than ever have signed up to join the local SES unit.

Read about the community meeting tomorrow: SES calls community meeting ahead of potential severe weather

Lismore City SES unit commander Lacy Loloa recently ran an induction training course for new SES volunteers, but made it clear that you don’t need to be out in the field to help out in the SES.

Lacy wants even more people to get involved, so the local SES has more members to respond effectively in future disasters and extreme weather events.

“There are so many roles to be filled, from being scribes, or in catering and logistics - we need all help we can get,” she said.

“Having more boots on the ground means we have more people who can go knocking door to door when emergencies are happening.”

With 40 new applicants ready to help out, Lacy said the recent SES induction included vehicle familiarization training in how to use sirens, radios and light bars.

“They also learn about different types of vehicles - some are for storms and rescues,” she said.

“Some of the new volunteers signed up after the February flood and then assisted in second major flood in March, helping as gophers.

“You can apply online to the Lismore unit, or to the Goonellabah incident management unit - where computer, media and logistical support teams help to keep everything running.

“Smaller areas like Coraki and Broadwater have smaller SES units - and they need more volunteers too.”

To volunteer, visit https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/volunteer/

Lismore HQ’s future

While the Lismore City SES Headquarters on Brunswick Street is not yet fully operational, the Lismore staff are back in the building and working, while waiting for contractors to repair things (much like the rest of Lismore).

“In previous floods, like the 2017 and the second March flood, the water only reached the road in front. But the February major flood was so high we were innunated about 50mm – it was enough to do some damage,” Lacy said.

“Even though building was built up fairly high, we evacuated because of the uncertainty about the water level rising.

“Fortunately, our shed with its equipment and vehicles were higher and safe.

“We’d love to build another level on top of the building but we don’t have the funding."

February flood and Inquiry

When the February flood hit, the SES staff moved their operational equipment up to the Lismore Heights Bowling Club and left a few staff at the SES HQ to assist with evacuations, triage and sending vessels.

“We normally launch our boats from Brunswick Street in front, but in the February flood, we were dropping evacuees at the front door,” Lacy said.

As a result of the recent flood experience, Lacy said the local SES has made a number of recommendations to the NSW Flood Inquiry.

“We definitely need more resources,” she said. “The severity of it took us all by surprise."

What happened?

The role civilians played in rescues is something that Lismore City SES unit commander Lacy Loloa has the utmost respect for.

“We have so much respect for the civilians who put their lives on the line to help,” she said.

When the February flood came, the Lismore City SES had five of their own SES vessels, as well as two from Southern Cross University, and two others from other SES units.

In total, the SES had nine boats on the water and three inflatable ‘archangel’ vessels.

“Even if we had 100 boats, we didn’t have enough members to man the boats – that was where the community stepped up,” Lacy said.

“During the 2019 bushfires inquiry, Commissioner Fitzsimmon said ‘we can’t have a fire truck at every house’. It’s the same with the boats during the flood.

“At first, we were encouraging civilian members to help, but had to withdraw that. It was about the potential liability of asking them for assistance.”

Changes

Lacy said a number of changes are needed to make Lismore streets safer to navigate in times of floods.

“Civilians were found trapped on one side of railway line and we’ve made recommendations to change the train lines – they stop boats from being able to cross to access North and South Lismore to evacuate and ferry people out.

“It will take one massive inquiry to make it safe.”