By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Wild winds have torn down trees across roads and the Pakenham railway line in Casey this morning.
Narre Warren’s SES unit controller Clinton Brown described the growing list of about 40 call-outs as “pretty crazy”.
The unit was on-hand to remove a tree that landed on a car near Cranbourne Secondary College. No one was injured.
Most of the call-outs have been to clear fallen trees from roads, mainly in Hampton Park, Cranbourne and Pearcedale.
Trains have resumed on the Pakenham line after passengers were diverted on buses due to a fallen tree between Narre Warren and Hallam stations.
The forecast 100km/h plus winds appeared to come to fruition, hitting Melbourne’s South East by 8.30am.
By 11am, “jobs have slowed down significantly to about one new job every 15 minutes,” Mr Brown said.
The emergency however underlined the need for more local SES members, he said.
Just five members of Casey’s only SES unit were available to attend the long list of fallen trees and scattered outdoor furniture and trampolines.
“We’ve got 20 operational members but as you can appreciate most of them are at their paid employment.”
Mr Brown urged residents to heed warnings to secure their outdoor furniture and trampolines during wild weather.
There had been several reports of items flying onto roofs and neighbouring yards.
The SES hoped to clear the call-outs by 5pm today.
