Kogarah State Emergency Service (SES) is urging St George residents to prepare their homes for more thunderstorm activity now that "storm season" is officially upon us.
SES crews from Kogarah spent the past week helping with the clean-up from the "supercell" storm that smashed Sutherland Shire and parts of St George on Monday, January 20.
Sutherland Shire bore the brunt of the massive storm, which lasted just 15 minutes but caused an estimated $32 million in damage, according to The Insurance Council of Australia, which deemed the event a catastrophe.
The SES received 783 calls for assistance following the storm, which packed winds of 120kmh and brought hailstones measuring up to 5cm.
The storm brought down trees, branches and powerlines, leaving 13,000 customers without power, closed roads, and brought trains to a stop in St George and the shire.
Kogarah SES was among 36 units to respond to the storm clean-up, which took almost a week to clear.
Thunderstorms have since threatened the region again, including last Thursday, when St George sweltered through extremely hot conditions, which saw Sydney Airport record Sydney's top temperature of 43.7 degrees.
Kogarah SES residents should take steps to prepare their homes for storms. These include:
- Trim overhanging branches
- Clean gutters and downpipes
- Secure loose outdoor items
- Park vehicles away from trees and powerlines.
Details: For help call NSW SES on 132 500.
