Storm and Flood Damage Volunteer

Storm preparation and response is one of the core duties of NSW SES.

Every area of NSW is susceptible to damaging storm activity. Storms are the most costly natural disaster ahead of floods and bushfire. On average storms cause $196 million of damage each year. This is nearly 10 times that caused by bushfires. The most expensive natural disaster in Australian history was the April 1999 hailstorm in Sydney, which caused over $4 billion in insured and uninsured damage.

 

 

What's involved in this role?

NSW SES volunteers can be trained in storm preparation and response undertaking many different activities like:

Storm Preparation   

  • Working with their local community to raise awareness of storm risks
  • Working with the media to promote storm awareness and safety
  • Developing local community education programs and activities on storm safety
  • Organising local displays on storm awareness
  • Delivering or assisting with presentations and talks to local community members on storm awareness, safety, preparedness and response
  • Assisting with the development and delivery of local StormSafe resources
  • Doorknocking or letterbox dropping of information and resources for the local community
  • Maintaining storm response equipment
  • Maintaining storm response skills through training
  • Training and assessing other volunteers with storm response skills

Storm Response

  • Talking to local media about NSW SES activities and StormSafe information
  • Securing damaged buildings and structures
  • Removing fallen trees or threatening trees from property
  • Assisting in operations by taking requests for assistance
  • Tasking NSW SES volunteer teams to respond to requests for assistance
  • Leading a response team
  • Securing damaged roofs and roof tiles

What you'll love

  • You're among the first on the scene during a severe weather event
  • Helping residents during severe weather is very rewarding
  • Be deployed across NSW to assist during major storms

Apply for this role

Volunteering type

Property protection and temporary repairs - tarping, sandbagging, boarding damaged windows, securing unstable walls, pumping water from flooded properties and clearing debris.

Fitness Requirements

Reasonable fitness is required, including the ability to climb a ladder, work in extreme weather conditions, lift sandbags have no medical conditions which prevent physical activity.

Time Requirements

Initial training requires regular attendance at the weekly Unit training night for 3 months, followed by ongoing training and professional development. After initial training, you will be placed on call and attendance will vary depending on weather conditions.

Skills requirements

The following training pathway is required:

  • Fundamentals & generic skills
  • Storm and Water Damage Operations - Ground,
  • Storm and Water Damage Operations - Heights (optional)

Unit locations with this capability

Available at all units

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