Charlotte Varcoe
FATHERS Day breakfast in bed was put on hold on the weekend with wild winds ripping through the region.
Across the Limestone Coast, State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers responded to almost 100 callouts across the Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Throughout South Australia, volunteers responded to 75 calls on Sunday and more than 200 on Monday as wind speed reached more than 100km per hour.
As wind speed in Mount Gambier/Berrin reached 105km per hour, the South Australian SES sent extra support to the region’s volunteers as they tirelessly assisted callouts.
SES chief of staff Dave O’Shannessy said Mount Gambier/Berrin and Mount Barker units “led from the front” with emergency responses.
Mr O’Shannessy said extra resources were sent to Mount Gambier/Berrin to provide volunteers with a “well-deserved rest”.
According to the SES, trees falling was the most common call out with about 200 jobs across the state on Sunday and Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded wind speeds of 107km per hour at Cape Jaffa on Sunday while Naracoorte recorded 90km per hour on Monday morning.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) scanner also recorded a number of call outs including trees threatening to fall on houses, damaged fences, trees blocking roads and sheets of tin on structures potentially coming loose.
Other scanner reports included shed roofs being blown off and trees leaning on power lines.
Almost 1100 people across the Limestone Coast were also without power on Monday afternoon as of print deadline.
The wild weather is expected to continue into the week with the SES reminding community members to park vehicles away from trees and under cover if possible, secure loose items around the home and stay indoors and away from windows while conditions are severe.
