Four Victorian Incident Management Team personnel are heading to the Northern Territory to assist in emergency operations following major flooding in the territory.
Leaving this afternoon, three Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) personnel, including one volunteer from the Gippsland region, and one Country Fire Authority (CFA) member from the Loddon Mallee region, will spend about a week at the Territory Emergency Operations Centre in Darwin.
The staff and volunteers will fulfill important management roles in various functions including operations, planning, intelligence and logistics, offering local crews a chance to rest.
They will join and be managed by two Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) staff already in the region, who are performing the role of Jurisdictional Liaison Officer and support.
Above average rainfall across much of the Territory has led to high river levels and flooding at multiple sites, with metropolitan, regional and remote centres affected.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Emergency Management Commissioner Brett Boatman:
“Thank you to our dedicated Victorian emergency management personnel who have put their hand up to assist our Northern Territory counterparts to provide some much-needed support.”
“Our thoughts are with the people of the Northern Territory. We know you will benefit from the knowledge and experience of this small but capable group.”
“We also thank the families of our members, and the employers of our volunteers, for enabling them to provide this assistance.”
Quotes attributable to VICSES Chief Officer Operations Alistair Drayton:
”VICSES prides itself on being there to support our fellow states and territories when help is needed. Our members are highly skilled and meticulously trained to provide vital flood and storm assistance to local incident management teams and support communities in their time of need.
“We wish them all the best on their deployment and we thank them for their commitment to keeping not only Victorian but Australian communities safe as well.”
Quotes attributable to CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan:
“This deployment demonstrates the commitment of our members. After a busy fire season, they continue to step up and put their skills to the test.”
"This team will provide important assistance to local crews who have been working hard to look after their communities during these floods."
In Victoria, severe storms bringing flash flooding or damaging winds can occur anytime. Be prepared for any type of emergency and know your local risk.
Victorians should never rely on one channel for emergency information. Connect to official sources of emergency information, including:
- VicEmergency app
- www.emergency.vic.gov.au
- Tune in to local emergency broadcasters such as ABC local radio, commercial and select community radio stations, or SkyNews TV
- Call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226
- Follow VicEmergency on Facebook and X
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