SES worksers from South Australia answered a call from Logan to help clean up the city following huge tennis-ball-size hail stones which ripped through tiles and solar panels.
Storms were the first of the season, yet some of the worst hail seen in the region.
Mayor Darren Power said the SES workers were unsung heroes.
“Leaving families and day jobs to travel half-way across the country to help those in need is all part of the position description,” Cr Power said.
The region’s SES controller Jim Ferguson said on Friday he and his team would hope to finish work on about 30 remaining houses by lunch time Saturday.
Workers would repair rooves and remove strewn debris and fallen branches before heading home for the weekend.
Logan SES members worked tirelessly since the previous Saturday of the storms.
“The dedication shown by these SES volunteers is incredible and I can’t thank them enough for their unwavering commitment to support the Logan community following recent storms,” Cr Power said.
“These amazing people often neglect the damage inflicted on their own homes to help others get back on their feet.”
Sian Zimmer is from the Enfield SES in South Australia. She got the call up on Sunday along with Ben Stobart and the pair arrived in Queensland on Monday to be deployed in storm zones throughout SEQ.
Ms Zimmer left her colleagues at the Port Lincoln Flying Club where she works as a flying instructor to offer a hand to Queenslanders.
“We get the call and off we go to wherever we’re needed, it’s just what we do,” she said.
Mr Stobart is a senior research scientist with the Fisheries division of the South Australian Research and Development Institute. He too put his day job on hold to support Queenslanders affected by storms.
Members from Bundaberg, Maroochydore, Nambour, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville have descended on Logan and Ipswich to offer support.
SES Local Controller Jim Ferguson said recent weather events are a timely reminder for residents to be prepared for the storm season ahead.
“Last month Logan SES received 713 requests for assistance for incidents such as fallen branches and leaking roofs and more recently damaged roofs and smashed sky lights,” he said.
“Our message is to be storm-ready and to not be complacent. One thing is certain. We will see more of this unpredictable weather in the months ahead, so we just need residents to be prepared.
“It can be as simple as cleaning out your gutters and trimming trees around the house.”
This week the State and Federal Governments announced personal hardship assistance for residents in Ipswich and parts of Logan affected by Saturday’s severe storms.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of an increased risk of flooding and tropical cyclones from now through to April.
