For VICSES assistance call 132 500
Emergency Call 1 Emergency Call 2

VICSES volunteers boost community flood literacy at Elmore Field Days

01/10/2024, 5:06 AM
There was plenty of action at VICSES' Elmore Field Days activation on Tuesday, as hundreds of attendees stopped by to engage with local volunteers.

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers will add a splash of orange to one of Victoria’s largest agricultural machinery shows this week, engaging with community members at the Elmore Field Days event.

Located at Site 546, the large VICSES site at the popular Loddon-region event features important flood and storm safety messaging and a dedicated entertainment area for children, which will be open throughout the three-day event.

The activation will also feature a rigid boat belonging to VICSES Kyabram Unit, and a Driver Reviver Engagement Van, with the latter often deployed in high-traffic areas across the state over holiday periods to encourage drivers to stop and refresh.

Volunteers from across  Loddon Mallee will lend their expertise to the event throughout, promoting flood safety and other key messaging in a region which has experienced several significant and damaging flood events in recent years.

Neighbouring towns, Rochester, Echuca and Kyabram were all heavily impacted by record-breaking riverine and flash flooding in late-2022, with VICSES volunteers from across the state deployed to assist in response and recovery efforts.

The activation will also see volunteers demonstrate best practice for sandbagging a property, using a two-sided cardboard façade to replicate a home at risk of flooding.

VICSES volunteers showcased how best to position sandbags to protect your property in the event of a flood emergency.

The VICSES activation at Elmore Field Days borders similar undertakings by emergency service partners from throughout the state, showcasing the close working relationship of Victoria’s first responders and their commitment to working as one in support of their communities.

So far this year, VICSES volunteers in the Loddon Mallee Region have received more than 2,600 requests for assistance (RFAs) with over 700 RFAs relating to either flood or building damage.

More than 60,000 people are expected to flock to the Elmore Field Days event over the coming days.

For more information on the event, visit www.elmorefielddays.com.au.

Quotes attributable to Layton Miller, Community Resilience Coordinator, VICSES Loddon Region.

“The Elmore Field Days are a great opportunity for our volunteers to engage with members of communities from far and wide, to spread awareness on our hazards and ensure Victorians are as prepared as possible in the event of an emergency.

“Developing an emergency kit, avoiding driving and walking through floodwater, and knowing how to effectively sandbag your property are considerations Loddon Mallee Region locals need to be aware of, particularly in the wake of recent years, and as we approach the high-risk season ahead.”