Storm keeps SES busy

Capes-based State Emergency Service volunteers responded to what they described as Busselton’s “biggest weather event” in five years when the first cold front of the season hit last Thursday.

Busselton SES unit volunteer Jocelin Lawson said they responded to 27 calls for assistance when the storm was at its peak on Thursday and Friday, totalling about 30 call outs over the course of the weekend.

She said most incidents involved roof and fence damage, fallen trees and rogue trampolines.

“We had calls from out near Dunsborough all the way up to Bayside (Geographe),” Ms Lawson said.

“Sheds blew into yards, trees were down and there were a lot of fences taken out.

“There was a significant line of damage down near Old Broadwater Farm and those with roof damage also had water seeping into their ceilings.”

Storms and heavy rains meant that more than 75mm of rain was recorded in Vasse and more than 68mm in Busselton.

Wind gusts reached 113km/h at Cape Naturaliste on Thursday night, while the Busselton Jetty copped gusts of up to 111km/h on Friday.

A Weather Bureau spokeswoman said a weak cold front was predicted to pass through Busselton when the Times went to print yesterday.

“We could see gusty showers and thunderstorms but rainfall totals are not looking as bad,” she said.

Ms Lawson encouraged residents to tie down trampolines, review minor yard damage and clean gutters in preparation for future storms.