You've seen them out in force this week in their orange high vis, unloading sandbags or knocking on doors.
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Some 300 State Emergency Service volunteers a day, including 200 spontaneous community volunteers, have been putting in the hard yards in and around Forbes this week.
Truckloads of sand have been bagged to protect homes and businesses from floodwaters; hundreds of doors have been knocked on to ensure everyone is aware that the flood water might impact them.
On Thursday, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott were in Forbes to say thank you.
"The SES do an amazing job ... there's nothing like this anywhere else in the world," Mr Perrottet said.
"To have about 300 a day on the ground here providing that care and support; sandbagging and the like; they do an amazing job and that is the spirit that gets our State through these difficult times.
"As premier to come up and here and visit gives an understanding of the extent of the damage that we're seeing, the challenge that still lies in front of us here in Forbes; but ultimately we will get through this like we have got through everything in the past.
"We've gone through so many difficult times in our State over the last four years whether it's drought, fires, the pandemic and floods, but still the people of NSW come through."
Mr Perrottet, Mr Elliott and Mr Toole took turns serving up the sausage sandwiches to the crowds of volunteers at a thank you at Victoria Park on Thursday.
"I know it's been a tough week, and it might get a bit worse with the challenges ahead, but I think this brings out the strength in our communities and our resilience," Mr Perrottet said.
Mayor Phyllis Miller also thanked RFS and Fire and Rescue services.
"We could not have coped without all of those services," she said.
"They're the people that have kept everyone safe, they've done a hell of a lot of sandbagging and protecting our community."
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Emergency Services Minister David Elliott also acknowledged Mayor Miller and Forbes Shire Council, police and Rural Fire Service and the Volunteer Rescue Association Ambulance.
"It's very much a hand in glove operation," he said.
He praised the SES for bringing a volunteer army from all over the State to respond to the impending major flooding in Forbes and surrounds.
"This is what the SES does, it is an agile organisation with the flexibility to to deploy at short notice numbers and resource," Mr Elliott said.
"That means that we minimise the risk to our community."
Mr Elliott issued a reminder to everyone to take responsibility for their own safety and preparation as well.
"The storm season is well and truly upon us," he said.
"It runs parallel with the bushfire season, and this will put significant stress on our emergency service.
"That is why, in my mind, individuals have to take responsibility for their own preparation ... and also for the response.
"You must know what your evacuation plan is.
"When it comes to bushfires ... you need to know your evacuation plan, mitigate the risk to your property."
Importantly, numerous roads in and around Forbes are closed due to floodwater and the situation can change quickly; never drive into floodwater.
This map is current as of Thursday afternoon; updates Forbes Shire Council and Live Traffic (be aware Live Traffic does not have local shire road closures).
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