STATE Emergency Service (SES) volunteers are risking life and limb to tarp leaky roofs in sodden conditions because of neglected drainage.
About 46 calls for help were made in the aftermath of storm activity which battered the bayside overnight on Friday, November 25, with much of the damage preventable with basic home maintenance.
Redland City SES local controller Clare Barker said blocked gutters were mostly to blame.
“Most of these jobs could have been reduced by residents cleaning out gutters to reduce flooding into ceilings,” she said.
Up to 27 volunteers worked around-the-clock for 10 hours from 6am on Saturday, November 26, to help fix roofs damaged in the 65mm downfall the night before.
While the tarping of roofs is undertaken by trained volunteers, with insurance cover provided by the service, Ms Barker said the risk of injuries sustained while working at heights and in slippery conditions was a major concern.
“Overflowing gutters increase volunteers risk of slips and falls due to the excess flow of water,” she said.
“The public need to be aware that overflowing gutters not only cause internal structural damage from water inundation but also make it extremely dangerous for our volunteers to tarp damaged roofs.”
Residents have since been urged by Ms Barker to clean out their gutters and down pipes, trim dangerous branches and tidy up yards in preparation for further wild weather.
More possible storm activity is predicted for today and tomorrow in the Brisbane region, according to the Bureau of Meterology.
For more information on how to prepare for storm season, visit redland.disasterplan.com.au.
If you require assistance from SES in the event of a natural disaster, ring 132 500. Make sure you have information about the damage that has occurred and a reliable phone number you can be contacted on.