Damage: A tree hangs on a powerline in Slim Crt, Tatura on Friday, December 23. Photo: Megan Fisher.
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Megan Fisher
Volunteers from the SES, CFA and Shepparton Search and Rescue worked into the night in the Tatura area on Thursday, December 22, to help people impacted by a severe thunderstorm.
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SES incident controller James Bowler said Tatura SES had 48 requests for assistance and Shepparton Search and Rescue had another six in the area.
“It was a bit of strange one — the storm sort of caught us all by surprise about 6.45pm,” Mr Bowler said.
“To the point where emergency services were told to stop all non-essential, non-emergency activity because the storms were just getting that dangerous.”
Destruction: A tree limb hangs precariously after a storm hit Tatura on Thursday, December 22. Photo: Tulli Batty
Mr Bowler said volunteers were also supported by SES crews from Wangaratta, Chiltern, Benalla and Seymour.
“Up until about 1am, crews were providing temporary repairs to buildings, there were some where skylights had been damaged and a few people who hadn’t cleaned their gutters out — there was quite a bit of damage to people’s properties in general,” he said.
“We also saw a lot of trees go down across roads creating quite serious traffic hazards, including one on Pyke St that also took down a power pole.”
Damage to the horticultural industry is expected to run into millions of dollars.
Fruit Growers Victoria grower services manager, Michael Crisera, said early estimates identified about 1085 hectares of fruit crops totally wiped out.
On that basis this damage alone would cost growers about $50 million.
He said the storm took a destructive path between Tatura, Ardmona and Bunbartha.
There were 28 damaged buildings and 20 trees fallen on roads reported to the SES in the Tatura area.
Two further calls for assistance came through on Friday morning with Tatura SES and Shepparton Search and Rescue working together to assist those people in need of support.
Mr Bowler said volunteers had worked well together to help the community and that the storm was a reminder for people to make sure they were prepared for such weather events.
“Thunderstorms do have their risks, so it’s probably time for people to review their emergency action plans and consider what they’re going to do when the power goes out and potentially phone coverage isn’t available,” he said.
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