REDLAND SES volunteers conducted flood boat training in Moreton Bay on Sunday in preparation for the coming storm season.
Seven members of the group launched from Cleveland Volunteer Marine Rescue boat ramp before conducting exercises around the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
The training enabled them to familiarise themselves with the two flat-bottomed boats, known as ‘Swifts’.
One of the boats is kept at Cleveland, while the other is based on the islands.
Redlands SES is also the first SES group in Queensland to have a barge, in addition to the other more common SES vessels.
The boats can be used to carry passengers and supplies and have rescue gear on board should this be needed.
SES volunteer Luke Forster said the seven operators spent the morning becoming more familiar with the boats.
“We practiced high speed manoeuvres and low speed reversing around objects,” he said.
He said the training was intended to ensure the operators were confident driving the boats and able to navigate their way around the islands.
The volunteers asked Redlands residents to start preparing for the storm season by cleaning out gutters and tidying overhanging branches.
Mr Forster said tile roofs, particularly ones that were old, should be checked in case any maintenance was needed.
“This just requires a visual check which can be done from the ground,” he said.
