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South Australia is the driest state on the world’s driest continent – but when it rains, it pours.
That’s why members of the state’s emergency services were in Auckland learning to rescue victims of flash flooding.
Around 20 South Australian State Emergency Service personnel were at South Auckland’s Vector Wero White Water Park yesterday to learn the skills they need to qualify as water rescue technicians. Although there were some professionals, most were part of the service’s 1800-strong volunteer core.
They practised swimming across turbulent water, crossing using ropes, and rescues in raging rivers.
Instructor Trevor Arnold, who commands the north region of the South Australian State Emergency Service, said the park was as close to real flood conditions as his trainees can get.
‘‘It’s absolutely typical of the concrete drains and rivers we work in back home. So we can do it here in a safe environment, there are safety systems here that allow us to manage all of our workplace health and safety while getting people to train in a real environment.
‘‘In Adelaide we have lots and lots of concrete storm drains, which are almost typical of what we have here.
The only water we ever get is flash flooding, and we do lots and lots of rescues of people who get stranded . . .
So, for us, it’s real-life training.’’
Flash flooding is a major danger in South Australia. Already this year the state emergency service has rescued several people from cars, and recently saved a bus full of passengers after it drove into floodwater.
‘‘The only water we ever get is flash flooding, and we do lots and lots of rescues of people who get stranded in flash flooding,’’ Arnold said.
‘‘We have long periods of dry and then really torrential downpours which actually move really quickly, and then the water doesn’t run away, it just pools there and then turns into a storm.’’
Arnold said Vector Wero White Water Park, which opened earlier this year, was ‘‘one of the world’s best training venues’’, and South Australia had nothing comparable.
‘‘We’re really happy to be here.’’
Trevor Arnold