Horse rescued by emergency services in Hinton

BY JARROD MELMETH

A horse has been rescued by emergency services overnight in Hinton, near Morpeth, after becoming trapped against trees.

24-year-old Franklin, had slipped on mud and slid backwards down a slope where he became trapped against tress and branches.

A vet was called to the scene who safely sedated Franklin while an extrication plan was developed to get the horse free.  

Chainsaw operators were brought in to remove surrounding lantana bushes as crews got to work arranging straps, slides and skids as part of the SES's Large Animal Rescue Operations.

The slide was positioned beneath Franklin who was heavily sedated at this point. SES and NSW Rural Fire Service crews then worked together to move the 1/2 tonne horse onto the slide using ropes. Once on the slide, the slide was winched down the slope and onto the grassed area of the paddock.

The on-site vet then checked over Franklin before he was reunited with his owner.

Pictured: SES and RFS crews rescuing Franklin.
Image: SES Port Stephens

Port Stephens Puppy freed after becoming stuck in a car ramp

BY JARROD MELMETH

A puppy has been rescued after becoming trapped in a car ramp over the weekend.

The crew from Port Stephens State Emergency Service attended a home at Raymond Terrace on Sunday where they found Dakota, whose head was trapped in the car ramp.

Her owners tried to use washing detergent and lubrication to free the little pup to no avail. 

Rescue Operators from the Port Stephens SES used a hydraulic combi tool to spread the metal, ultimately freeing Dakota.

The team says the pup returned to her owners loving arms and they were thanked with lots of licks and tail wags.

Pictured: Dakota after being freed.
Image: Port Stephens SES.

Wild Weather Leaves Kurri Kurri Looking Like a War Zone

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It could be days before Kurri Kurri gets back on its feet after a ferocious storm ripped through the area yesterday afternoon.

Cyclonic conditions hit the town at about 2pm, with it came winds of up to 100 kilomtres per hour that ripped roofs off buildings, brought trees down on cars and cut power to thousands of homes.

Image MJF Productions.

Emergency services were run off their feet with the Kurri Kurri Community Centre evacuated after the building partially collapsed, and the Ambulance Practice hall became one of the worst hit with the roof completely ripped off.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said the storm was short but severe.

"I was in the area yesterday when it happened and it is like a war zone,"

"The plan today is that the SES, the police and council have a meeting this morning and from there we will work out a way forward, particularly around the safety aspect of the buildings that lost their roofs," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Today Kurri Kurri Public School is closed due to damage, as will the library until it is given the all clear. The OOSh which runs out of the Ambulance Hall will relocate if a suitable venue can be found.



"We will get a full assessment today with the meeting between SES, the police and council and we will then be putting forward an emergency funding plan from the government," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Rachael Squires from the SES says crews are still dealing with dozens of calls for assistance.

"In total, we had over 175 calls for assistance. Last night we had 20 crews on the ground from across our region, we also had assistance from a number of crews from Fire and Rescue and so we managed to be able to complete around 90 of those jobs so we'll still be working on the ground today."

Ausgrid is still working to restore power to 1300 homes around Kurri Kurri, Abermain, Weston Sawyers Gully and Loxford.

"Everyone needs to remain safe because we still have around 1300 people without power so it's going to be a tough day again today," said Mayor Bob Pynsent.

Kurri Kurri Communuity Centre Image MJF Productions.

Image MJF Productions.

UPDATE 3:20pm Huge thunderstorm pummels through the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE 3:22pm

Two people have been taken to the Maitland Hospital after being hurt during the storm.

Emergency services were called the Kurri Kurri Community Centre at 2:07pm.

They suffered minor injuries believed to be storm related.

The State Emergency Service is advising people to move cars under or away from trees, secure loose items around your house, stay away from fallen power lines or objects, report any fallen power lines to Ausgrid on 131 388, unplug computers or appliances, avoid using your phone during the storm and try to stay indoors.

EARLIER 2:30pm

There are reports of significant damage in the Kurri Kurri business district as a huge thunderstorm moves through the area.

The Kurri Kurri Community Centre in Lang Street has been evacuated after suffering storm damage this afternoon.

The damage is yet to be fully assessed and so it will be closed until further notice. There are reports the roof has been torn off the centre and exposed bricks have fallen onto the road.

Glen works next door to the library and says emergency services are checking that everyone got out alright.

"Community Centre library has lost its roof completely by the look of things its taken some of the facade down with it. There's bricks all on the road, tin across the road. At the moment we've got ambulance, fire, police, the streets are blocked off, we've got wires down, trees down..."

RT: KURRI KURRI | UPDATE: All people accounted for after partial building collapse in Lang St. Exclusion zone in place & crews assessing da…

— Ian Krimmer (@IanKrimmer) November 6, 2017

Other buildings have also reportedly been damaged including the Ambulance Practice Hall in Lang Street.

The Kurri Kurri Aquatic Fitness Centre has been closed due to damage. Just what the damage there is isn't known at this stage.

Traffic lights are blacked out at Station Street at First Street in Weston, meanwhile, there's a fallen tree on Allandale Road and a damaged sign is affecting southbound traffic in East Maitland at Newcastle Street at High Street.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning which was expected to hit Newcastle, Maitland, Raymond Terrace, Wallsend and Morpeth by 2:30pm and then Swansea, Dora Creek, Nords Wharf and Lake Macquarie by 3pm.

You should report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid on 131 388, or Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Essential Energy on 132 080 as shown on your power bill.

In an emergency ring the SES on 132 500.

SES "Unprepared" For 2015 Dungog Storm Disaster

BY IAN CROUCH

The inquest into the super storm and flash flood which wreaked havoc in Dungog in 2015 has heard the State Emergency Service was unprepared for the disaster.

Just six volunteers were available to respond to the torrent of water which inundated the town.

Four homes were washed away and three people lost their lives.

The inquiry also heard there was no local plan for flash flooding in the area.

The storm has been described as a one in a thousand year event.

One Of Four Homes Washed Away. picture dailytelegrapgh.com.au

SES "WOW" Day

BY RACHEL STORER

Today is "Wear Orange Wednesday" (WOW Day) and the SES is asking people of the Hunter to wear orange to work or school in support of volunteers.

The 40,000 State Emergency Service volunteers have just faced their busiest 12 months on record, seeing 46 declared disasters across Australia with NSW being the most affected with a 45% increase of incidents.

Volunteers dedicated 390,000 hours of their time to assist communities affected by disasters.

Becky Gollings from the NSW SES is calling for people to show their support and appreciation today.

"[Volunteers] don't do it for any awards, thanks or money but getting behind them and showing them that they are appreciated goes so far to boost their spirit and morale," she said.

The SES have developed the hashtag #thankyouses and encourage people to "snap a selfie" in their orange attire and post it to social media so volunteers can see the widespread support for their service.

SES Volunteers. Image: ses.nsw.gov.au

SES Weather

The State Emergency Service is being kept on its toes today with significant rainfall across the Hunter.

A minor flood warning has been issued by the Weather Bureau for Lake Macquarie, with more than 200mm of rain recorded at Cooranbong and Blacksmiths.

There are reports of flash flooding around Swansea and Dora Creek.

The SES has received 63 calls for assistance, mainly related to localised flooding.

Anyone requiring emergency assistance may ring 132 500.