KILMORE State Emergency Service (SES) personnel were notably active last week as severe weather conditions affected much of Victoria, responding to 40 requests for assistance.
Unit Controller Steve Caddies noted that February 24 was particularly busy for the unit, with ten calls for help received, primarily from Wallan. He expressed relief that training exercises were scheduled that day, allowing around 25 members to be readily available to assist the community. “It was a bit of an unexpected downpour. While we anticipated heavier rainfall, it didn’t reach the predicted levels, which is fortunate,” remarked Mr. Caddies.
During the response efforts, the SES collaborated with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to address flooding issues at the Woolworths loading dock in Kilmore, which had experienced significant water accumulation due to blocked drains. Thankfully, the interior of the store remained dry.
Mr. Caddies reported that many of the service calls focused on water entering residences, largely caused by drainage issues. Additionally, fallen trees obstructed some roads, including sections of the Northern Highway in Wallan, prompting police and VicRoads to erect signage for safety.
Following another round of heavy rain, Deputy Controller Corey Finger mentioned that over the weekend and into Monday, March 2, the SES received around 30 more calls primarily linked to flooding and structural damage.
The Bureau of Meteorology indicated that the Kilmore Gap area recorded 19.4mm of rain on February 24, a significant increase from 9.4mm during the same period last year. With more heavy rain anticipated, about 50mm was forecast for Kilmore in the coming days.
Interestingly, the BoM also noted that Wallan (Kilmore Gap) achieved its highest recorded rainfall for July in 2025, accumulating 101mm, surpassing the previous record of 92.6 mm set in 1996. This emphasizes the changing weather patterns impacting the region and the vital role of the SES in community support during such events.