Cobram SES answered calls for help as storms lashed Victoria

By Gabriel Garcia

Feb 16, 2024

Damaged: The Historical Society log cabin was Cobram’s biggest casualty during the recent storms. Photo by Contributed

The Cobram SES unit answered 19 callouts during the recent wild weather that lashed the state.

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Cobram SES deputy unit controller Luke Herezo said nearly all the callouts during the storm on February 13 and 14, were related to trees across the road.

Cobram suffered little building damage, with the exception of the Historical Society log cabin in Federation Park, whose roof was taken off in high winds.

Cobram SES had a crew of 20 in action over the two days, working six-hour shifts each day.

However, Mr Herezo still counts himself and his team lucky.

“We were fairly lucky in comparison to the rest of the state,” he said.

“So far, the SES received 4600 callouts for assistance across Victoria,” he said of the demand during the week’s storm activity.

Trees down: Cobram SES responded to multiple trees down across the town. Photo by Contributed

Further south in Greater Shepparton, 5000 houses lost power, and about half-a-million homes lost power state-wide.

Wind speeds of up to 150km/h were recorded in some parts of the state, while lightning strikes were thought to be the cause of devastating bushfires in Victoria’s west.