news, latest-news, ses, act ses, pumper, canberra ses, flooding, canberra flooding
Ahead of what’s expected to be one of the busiest storm seasons in years, the ACT SES has a new tool in its arsenal in the event of flooding. A new three-person truck will be able to be used by crews to transport a specialised pump to the scene of emergencies and help drain rising floodwaters. While the high-capacity pump has previously been at the disposal of Canberra’s SES, it hadn’t been able to be transported easily to emergency sites due to its weight. The pumper is able to deal with 6000 litres of water per minute. ACT Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman said the almost $100,000 truck will lead to SES crews being freed up to help deal with flooding emergencies should they eventuate this summer. “Previously, we would have to tow the pumper with a much larger vehicle which would limit the use for SES officers on the ground,” Mr Gentleman said. “It will be very handy when it comes to areas flooded with storm water such as basement car parks and it allows the SES to come and quickly deal with those emergencies.” As well as being used by SES crews to drain water, the pump will also play a role alongside the Rural Fire Service this summer. The pump will also be used to fill up fire tankers on the ground in less than two minutes. ACT SES chief officer Anthony Draheim said while the pump and its new three-man truck will mainly be used as part of the SES’s river unit, it would also play a crucial role with firefighting efforts. “This can then fill up the tankers on the ground, instead of them having to go back to another site,” Mr Draheim said. “If there is a water source nearby, it can draw water straight to the fire tanker in a matter of minutes.” Funding for the new three-man truck came from existing government funding for emergency vehicles for the ESA. Mr Draheim said while there was only one of the pumpers and trucks as part of the SES fleet, it had a range of uses. “The vehicle is small, it’s a small, light reconnaissance vehicle, and good things come in small packages,” Mr Draheim said. “We’re giving the vehicle to the rivers brigade, so it can connect successfully with the RFS, and that brigade is right next door and they work hand in hand to use that pump as needed.” The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a wetter than average summer this season, thanks to a La Nina weather pattern. Storm season lasts in the ACT between September and March.
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Yb2Jn5LgcGxmVnDUUjd5xi/fa0de318-23f1-4288-9dd0-0df6b71487d3.jpg/r1_153_2997_1846_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Ahead of what’s expected to be one of the busiest storm seasons in years, the ACT SES has a new tool in its arsenal in the event of flooding.
A new three-person truck will be able to be used by crews to transport a specialised pump to the scene of emergencies and help drain rising floodwaters.
While the high-capacity pump has previously been at the disposal of Canberra’s SES, it hadn’t been able to be transported easily to emergency sites due to its weight.
The pumper is able to deal with 6000 litres of water per minute.
ACT Emergency Services Minister Mick Gentleman said the almost $100,000 truck will lead to SES crews being freed up to help deal with flooding emergencies should they eventuate this summer.
“Previously, we would have to tow the pumper with a much larger vehicle which would limit the use for SES officers on the ground,” Mr Gentleman said.
“It will be very handy when it comes to areas flooded with storm water such as basement car parks and it allows the SES to come and quickly deal with those emergencies.”
As well as being used by SES crews to drain water, the pump will also play a role alongside the Rural Fire Service this summer.
The pump will also be used to fill up fire tankers on the ground in less than two minutes.
ACT SES chief officer Anthony Draheim said while the pump and its new three-man truck will mainly be used as part of the SES’s river unit, it would also play a crucial role with firefighting efforts.
“This can then fill up the tankers on the ground, instead of them having to go back to another site,” Mr Draheim said.
“If there is a water source nearby, it can draw water straight to the fire tanker in a matter of minutes.”
Funding for the new three-man truck came from existing government funding for emergency vehicles for the ESA.
Mr Draheim said while there was only one of the pumpers and trucks as part of the SES fleet, it had a range of uses.
“The vehicle is small, it’s a small, light reconnaissance vehicle, and good things come in small packages,” Mr Draheim said.
“We’re giving the vehicle to the rivers brigade, so it can connect successfully with the RFS, and that brigade is right next door and they work hand in hand to use that pump as needed.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a wetter than average summer this season, thanks to a La Nina weather pattern.
Storm season lasts in the ACT between September and March.
