Severe weather headed for Mandurah, Perth, South West

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is warning people living in the South West, Great Southern and parts of Lower West and South East Coastal districts to take action and stay safe with severe weather to come. 

Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Mount Barker, Narrogin and Perth. 

WHAT TO DO: 

DFES advises you to: 

• If outside find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, storm water drains and streams
• Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows
• Unplug electrical appliances and avoid using landline telephones if there is lightning
• If there is flooding, create your own sandbags by using pillow cases filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home
• If boating, swimming or surfing leave the water.

IF DRIVING:

• Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current
• Slow down, turn your lights on and keep a safe distance from other drivers
• Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen powerlines and loose debris
• If it is raining heavily and you cannot see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears.

WEATHER DETAILS: 

At 29/07/2021 05:06:00 the Bureau of Meteorology advised a strong cold front will move across the South West Land Division Thursday morning with possible damaging wind gusts.Weather Situation: An intensifying cold front will move over the South West Land Division from early Thursday morning bringing squally showers to much of the area.DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 100 km/h that could cause DAMAGE TO HOMES AND PROPERTY are expected south of a line Busselton to Albany and extend throughout the warning area during the morning and afternoon, reaching Perth from around 2 pm Thursday.Locally DANGEROUS WIND GUSTS in excess of 125 km/h which could cause SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HOMES AND PROPERTY are possible southwest of a line from Mandurah to Albany from around 8 am Thursday.Tides will be higher than expected between Geraldton and Albany during Thursday.DAMAGING SURF CONDITIONS are likely which could cause SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION between Shark Bay and Albany.Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Mount Barker, Narrogin and Perth. 

ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS: 

Some roads may be closed

Take extra care on the roads and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.

Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by calling 138 138 or visiting travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au or by contacting your Local Government Authority.

WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING: 

• DFES is monitoring the situation
• Emergency services have answered more than 24 calls for help since since 5am yesterday, July 28.

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE:

•  If it is safe to do so, please do what you can to help yourself before calling the SES for assistance
• If your home has been badly damaged by a storm, call the SES on 132 500
• In a life threatening situation call 000.

After a storm SES volunteers make temporary repairs to homes that have been badly damaged, such as roofs that have been ripped off or large fallen trees on homes or cars. Please contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs. 

KEEP UP TO DATE: 

Visit emergency.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter: twitter.com/dfes_wa, Facebook: facebook.com/dfeswa, listen to Local Radio, or news bulletins.

During a power outage, your home phone, computer or other electronic devices connected to the NBN will not work. Include a battery powered radio in your emergency kit. 

Updates will be provided when the situation changes.