Eugowra has taken a step closer to restoring its flood siren as a local emergency warning system, with the successful sounding at 11am on Saturday 3 May.
The NSW State Emergency Services Commissioner was among those to gather on the ground for the occasion which Superintendent Joshua Clark, Deputy Zone Commander for Western Zone, said was a culmination of two years’ work and consultation with the community.
“People came into town to hear it - a couple of people came in to record it, because it’s the first time in many years it’s actually gone off,” Supt Clark said.
But it did work and it was heard right across the town.
For Danny Townsend, long-time Rural Fire Service volunteer and Eugowra Supermarket owner, it’s a critical part of the local disaster warning.
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“People will take notice,” he said.
The history of the siren was recently prepared for the Eugowra News, kindly shared with The Advocate.
Theo Wykamp and Vin Forest procured the siren from a mine, where it was used as a warning that a blast was about to occur.
Theo was fire captain at the time, and they installed it at the Eugowra fire shed.
The siren has been out of use for a number of years now, perhaps last used in the 2001 bushfires.
The tragedy of the 2022 flood event has brought it back to the fore.
Supt Clark said the SES has been through a lengthy process of restoring the siren to its place locally – as well as hosting local information sessions around the Australian warning system and the Hazards Near Me app.
A survey last year asked the community whether the siren was to be used as early warning or final call to action, with the siren to be sounded when it is time to get to high ground, a place of safety.
“We had about 160 respondents to that survey and the message was really clear that it was their last resort,” Supt Clark said.
The next steps include determining who will sound the siren – it’s community owned, not SES or council – and when.
“We know what it’s going to mean for the community when they hear it,” Supt Clark said.
“We’re now at that stage where we work through those questions with the community to ensure we have a number of people that are able to and capable of setting it off if and when it’s needed.”
