Eurobodalla Emergency Operations Centre update
Fires
NSW RFS advise that fire weather conditions are expected to deteriorate from Friday and worsen on Saturday, when fire activity is expected to increase in Eurobodalla’s south.
Updated fire prediction maps are anticipated early tomorrow.
If you are in a fire-affected area, relocating to a safer location with friends or family is the preferred option. Please remember that leaving early is always the safest option.
Options for relocating include town centres or areas where the fire has already burnt through. Stay with family or friends or set up your own camp. RFS anticipate most residents will be able to return home on Sunday.
Evacuation centres are set up in Narooma and Moruya for those without other options.
The villages of Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba will be closed for business on Saturday. Residents are asked to relocate unless they intend to defend their property and keep the streets clear of vehicles. This will allow firefighers the best chance of defending the heritage villages should fires impact.
The smoke around Eurobodalla is the result of successful backburning efforts using RFS ground crews and aircraft in the past few days.
More than 200 extra firefighting personnel are in the region to support this week’s backburning activities, and to bolster firefighting efforts for Friday and Saturday.
Stay up to date with Fires Near Me and Live Traffic.
Evacuation centres
Evacuation centres in Moruya and Narooma will move to 24 hour service tomorrow (Friday) until further notice.
· Moruya evacuation centre: Moruya Basketball stadium, in the showgrounds, Albert Street, Moruya. Opens Friday 9am, 24/7
· Narooma evacuation centre: Narooma Leisure Centre, Bluewater Drive, Narooma, opens Friday 9am, 24/7
Please remember evacuation centres are a lifeboat, not a cruise ship. Be as self-sufficient as you can. Bring your own bedding and towels, and your own food. People with babies and young children, please bring nappies, formula, baby food, toys and activities. The strong preference is to re-house all animals with friends or family out of the fire zone. If this isn’t an option, smaller pets are welcome at the evacuation centres. Please bring pet food and bowls.
Large animals (such as horses) can be accommodated under owner-care at Moruya Showground. Local Land Services reps are onsite at the showground to assist with animal welfare. For livestock, you can contact the Agriculture and Animal Services hotline on 1800 814 647 for advice.
People with camping equipment may camp on the grounds of each evacuation centre. Pack up tents and store them in cars before a fire front arrives. Embers will burn tents and make it unsafe for others.
Register your whereabouts
Whether you evacuate to a centre or to family and friends, register online at Register.Find.Reunite. This allows family and friends to find you without contacting response teams, which allows teams to focus on those most in need.
People with medical conditions
When fires threaten, people with medical conditions should move to an official evacuation centre immediately. Please take your required medication and copies of prescriptions. Do not present to the hospital unless you require immediate medical attention. The evacuation centres offer food, water, safety, company and St John’s Ambulance personnel.
Schools
The Department of Education advises that primary schools in Central Tilba, Narooma, Bodalla and Moruya, as well as Moruya and Narooma high schools will close on Friday based on advice from Rural Fire Service. Other schools may choose to close and parents should check arrangements with their school.
Roads and traffic:
· Araluen Road is closed
· Larrys Mountain Road is closed
· Potato Point Road is closed
Please obey roadblocks – they are in place for your safety. Restrict driving west of the highway to essential trips only.
The EOC is calling on motorists to take extra care on the roads at the moment. We have crews from Council, Essential Energy and other agencies working beside roads to restore the shire’s infrastructure. Help them stay safe by slowing right down and obeying speed limits. Be patient, don’t take risks.
Closures Moruya waste transfer station was impacted by fire last Saturday and remains closed. Brou tip has fire activity around it and remains closed. Both facilities will re-open as soon as it is safe to do so. Surf Beach tip is open Monday to Friday 7am to 4.45pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 8am to 3.45pm.
Narooma Library will close Friday and Saturday, and Narooma Out of School Hours Care and the Youth Café will close Friday.
Power
Ahead of tomorrow’s predicted conditions, residents in the southern part of the shire should make preparations to be without power if fire impacts the electricity network.
Essential Energy advise that 456 Eurobodalla customers are without power in the areas of Deep Creek, Mogendoura, Bodalla, Mogo, Nerrigundah, Rosedale, Nelligen, and around Moruya at Hawdons Road, Araluen Road and Yarragee Road. Crews continue their work to restore the damaged network and return power to residents. Customers can call 132080 for enquiries.
Essential Energy is encouraging residents in remote areas who have been without power for an extended time to call 132080 to arrange a generator.
Water
Please help conserve water for essential drinking water and firefighting. The shire’s water storage facility at Deep Creek Dam is now below fifty percent capacity.
Do not wet down buildings or grounds or leave sprinklers and hoses running. This is only useful when properties are under threat of fire or ember attack. An ember is a hot glowing coal – cold and blackened leaves are not embers.
Animal welfare
South East Local Lands Service field crews are providing animal welfare support, including feed and water, following last Thursday’s fires.
They are available to provide advice to rural land owners about animal welfare for the predicted fire activity this Friday and Saturday. Call 1800 814 647.
Community updates
Eurobodalla’s Emergency Operations Centre will provide community updates as required, distributed to media, social media, community associations and the evacuation centre. Stay updated with local radio, Fires Near Me, Live Traffic. If your life is in danger call Triple Zero (000).
Chief Inspector Greg Flood
Local Emergency Operations Controller
Emergency Operations Centre, Eurobodalla
30 January 2020, 7.30pm
