Special SES deployment to arrive in flood-affected Yeppoon tomorrow

Twelve Brisbane-based State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers will move to Yeppoon tomorrow to assist the local response to heavy rain and flash flooding, Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan said.

Mr Hoolihan said nine of the SES personnel from Brisbane would fly to Rockhampton tomorrow before travelling to Yeppoon. They will be joined by another three SES volunteers currently driving from Brisbane with additional vehicles and equipment.

"Yeppoon has received more than 400 millimetres of rain already this week," Mr Hoolihan said.

"I welcome these additional SES personnel to assist our dedicated and hard-working volunteers that have done such a tremendous job on the Capricorn Coast."

Mr Hoolihan said Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts had advised that the Brisbane SES members were being deployed to Yeppoon as Task Force Alpha.

"I welcome the members of Task Force Alpha. At this stage, their deployment to Yeppoon will be over the weekend," Mr Hoolihan said.

Mr Roberts said he expected the Department of Emergency Services would recommend that he activate the joint State and Commonwealth-funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) for Livingstone shire tomorrow.

"I activated NDRRA for Livingstone shire late last month as a result of heavy rain and associated flooding in the Rockhampton region," Mr Roberts said.

14 February 2008
Media contacts:
Paul Hoolihan (Member for Keppel) 0438 794 072
Kirby Anderson (Minister Roberts' office) 0418 197 350