5pm
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Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley has warned North East residents not to be complacent, with the region declared the most likely Victorian location to flood.
“We’re most worried about the North-East,” he told a press conference.
“Our modelling show the Ovens and King rivers are likely to get the largest amount of rain in them.
“There’s concern for any community on Ovens and Kings but Wangaratta would have to be prime location.”
Mr Lapsley said there was a high risk of Riverine floods near Wangaratta due to the joining of river systems.
“Riverine flooding is when rain at the top of a catchment rain can take some days to flow through rivers, the Ovens and King for example have got an ability to absorb a significant amount of rain in their systems but it’s about where the water spreads out,” he said.
“You go to places like Myrtleford, Bright and Porepunkah at the top end of the catchments, down all the way to Wangaratta at the bottom – that’s where the two rivers join together and if those rivers peak at the same time that’s when we have an issue.”
10am
The rain has started rolling in, and so have your pictures.
Please make sure you stay safe out there today!
9.24am
8.30am
Emergency service, farmers and residents are bracing for two days of heavy storm, but the region still has a few hours before the ‘heavy’ rain begins.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicted heavy rain and thunderstorm activity across Saturday and Sunday with a chance of flash flooding.
Three day rain totals of 100-200mm are expected across most northern and central regions of Victoria.
Elsewhere totals are likely to be between 30 and 100mm. Over the northeast ranges falls may exceed 250mm.
Albury’s State Emergency Service volunteers spent hours filling up sandbags and preparing ahead of what could be a busy two-days of call outs.
While animal rescue groups have called for owners to ensure their pets are safe and secure to avoid them being lost and scared in the storm.
Victorian paramedics are warning people to take care on ladders during the weekend’s storms, after a dozen people were hospitalised in 12 hours due to ladder falls on Thursday.
Many of 11 men and one woman who were injured told paramedics they’d fallen while clearing gutters ahead of the storms.
Related:
Ambulance Victoria Director of Emergency Management Paul Holman fears more people will be injured in ladder falls as the storms move through.
“Unfortunately a fall from a ladder or the roof can easily cause death or result in life-changing injuries,” Mr Holman said.
“We know older people are more prone to falls. Nine of the 12 injured yesterday were aged over 50.
“It’s just not worth the risk climbing a ladder if you can avoid it. Consider getting a professional in to do the work.
“If your house has flood or storm damage, call the SES on 132 500.”
Paramedics also urge people not to drive through floodwaters.
“During the last major flooding in Victoria, Air Ambulance paramedics had to perform a number of rescues after people were stranded when they drove their car drove into floodwaters,” Mr Holman said.