South Australia’s State Emergency Service is calling for more volunteers to help keep people safe after record-breaking rainfalls were recorded in Renmark yesterday.
Key points:
- Renmark recorded 95 millimetres of rain in a single day, its biggest 24-hour total since 2014
- There were 167 requests made to the SES for help throughout the state, with 98 calls from the Riverland
- Some local rain gauges recorded more than 100mm of rain
More than 95 millimetres of rain was recorded at the Bureau of Meteorology’s Renmark weather station, the wettest day recorded in the town since 80mm fell in February 2014.
The SES received more than its average yearly amount of calls in the region in five hours, with almost 100 people requiring assistance.
State duty officer Kane Murray said the number of calls received highlighted the need for extra local volunteers to sign up and join the SES.
“We can always use more volunteers and it’s important to know if you don’t feel like jumping in a truck we’ve got a variety of roles within the SES,” he said.
“Recruitment is always an ongoing issue for us and that’s why I say, the more the merrier.
“Not only do you get to learn some transferable life skills, it’s quite rewarding to know you’re giving back to your community.”
‘Deluge’ inundates properties
In the small town of Lyrup, just south of Renmark, multiple local backyard rain gauges recorded more than 100mm of rain in a day.
On Monday afternoon, SES crews were still in Lyrup cleaning up properties and homes.
Mary Crouch was at home when the heavy rain hit the town on Sunday afternoon and floodwater started entering her property.
“[It was a] deluge. It was a normal day and then late yesterday afternoon the heavens opened and down 100 millimetres came in about four or five hours,” she said.
“[We] called the SES and they came down with sandbags.”
Ms Crouch spent Monday pumping water away from her home and front garden, which was still holding shin-height water.
“I’d like to thank the SES for their responses, their compassion,” she said.
“They’re a fabulous crew and if in doubt anytime, call them because they do a fantastic job.”
Further south in Berri, the town’s golf course is set to be closed for two-to-three days, with the surface currently covered in large pools of water.
“The rains have caused a big impact, particularly on the golf course,” Big River Golf and Country Club general manager Kelly Warren said.
“We’ve had to close the course for a couple of days; [there’s been] just an abundance of water so it’s not safe for anyone out there.”
Ms Warren added the heavy rain, as well as increased river flows heading down the Murray River in the coming weeks, can bring the community together.
“We’re all here for the same purpose, the same goals. So reach out and look after everybody,” she said.
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