SES warns residents of flood potential

The State Emergency Service has warned Gippsland residents to be prepared for the likelihood of flooding during spring and early summer.
Community resilience coordinator for East Region Gail Cumming said many parts of Gippsland were already very wet and a small amount of extra rain could cause some areas to flood quickly.
The ground can't absorb any more water, she said.
Ms Cumming's warning followed the Bureau of Meteorology officially declaring there was an 80 per cent likelihood of a La Nina event forming in the final three months of the year which would bring above average rainfall.
She urged Gippsland residents to understand their local flood history stay informed and never drive on roads covered with water.
Flood guides for at-risk communities are available at www.ses.vic.gov.au/your-local-flood-information
Forecasts, river levels and weather warnings can be found at www.bom.gov.au
Ms Cumming said residents should have a plan for power and internet outages such as having a battery operated radio and make sure to know their neighbours who could be important in an emergency.
They should also think about what to do in an emergency such as where to go, what to take and how to get there.