Rochester properties considered at high risk from potential flood waters are being prioritised by State Emergency Service volunteers, who on Wednesday began distributing sandbags to owners of low-lying homes in preparation for predicted heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours.
There are 35 to 40 houses in Rochester that are in immediate danger if flood waters rise to minor levels, while some 300 homes could be affected if flooding reaches levels of previous years.
An army of volunteers was filling sandbags by hand and shovel while Rochester SES officers used heavy machinery and a sandbagging machine to satisfy the demand of property owners who had arrived at Rochester Recreation Reserve to check on their ‘at risk’ status.
Rochester SES member Judy Gledhill said drivers, who had come armed with utility vehicles and with trailers, were being asked their address, and a cross-referencing tool was being used to gauge whether they were at immediate risk in the event of flooding.
Homes in low-lying areas were then being allocated 25 sandbags. Those with homes on ‘higher’ land, who had spent up to 45 minutes in a queue that stretched half the circumference of the Rochester oval, were asked to come back on Friday.
Mrs Gledhill said by then the SES would have a much greater understanding of what homes were in danger of flooding.
“We have information which allows us to look up an address and determine whether it is in a lower or higher area of town,” she said.
"We are giving those homes in lower areas sandbags and asking those in higher areas to wait until Friday.“
She said a Facebook callout for volunteers to assist with sandbagging had resulted in more than 50 volunteers being involved throughout the day.
“We are hoping for best-case scenario, but preparing for the worst,” she said.
“The major concern for us will be just how much has fallen in the south, and how much more they get in the coming days.”
Rochester SES has been encouraging residents to complete their flood planning early, to enable quick evacuation if required.
Mrs Gledhill reminded people of the Victorian SES campaign of ‘bag it, block it, lift it and leave’.
“People should also remember never to drive in flood waters. That is a message we really hope gets through to people,” she said.
There was a general acknowledgement among those in the queue at the reserve that Rochester residents were much better prepared this year than they were in 2011, when the town was inundated with flood waters and many people had just 24 hours to prepare.