In Victoria, damaging to destructive winds and heavy rainfall affected central and eastern parts of the state overnight on 9 June, gradually easing on 10 June. The winds and rain caused significant impact and damage, including riverine flooding, falling trees, damaged power infrastructure, telecommunication outages and major damage to road networks. Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) received more than 9,100 requests for assistance across the state relating to the flood and storm event. The majority of those related to trees, building damage, assist fire service and assist police.

Widespread 24-hour rainfall totals of 50-150 mm were observed through west Gippsland, with several stations recording totals above 200 mm. Between 10 am on 9 June to 10 am on 10 June, Victoria recorded more than 280 mm of rain at Mt Baw Baw, 250 mm at Thompson Catchment and 270 mm at Mount Tassie. Strong winds were observed, with wind gusts of 119 km/h recorded at Puckapunyal and 115 km/h at Wilsons Promontory.

The rainfall resulted in moderate to major flooding in several catchments in eastern Victoria, with parts of Traralgon evacuated. Several rivers in eastern Tasmania also reached minor to moderate flood levels. Widespread snowfall was observed through the New South Wales alps all the way to the Queensland border, and hazardous surf conditions affected the Gippsland coast.

The Gippsland town of Traralgon was particularly impacted by flooding. At 10 am on 10 June, an evacuation warning was issued for the vicinity of Traralgon and subsequently Traralgon Creek, which continued until 11 June. Some residents close to Traralgon Creek were rescued from floodwaters by swift water crews. An emergency flood warning was also issued for the Yarra River between Coldstream and Warrandyte.

Storm impact

The weather caused major impacts to critical infrastructure, damage to properties and isolation of multiple communities across Victoria. The most storm-affected areas in Victoria were the following local government areas:

• Baw Baw, La Trobe, Wellington, South Gippsland and Bass Coast (central and south-west Gippsland)
• Murrindindi, Yarra Ranges and Cardinia (eastern metropolitan)
• Hepburn, Moorabool, and Macedon Ranges (central highlands).

There were two confirmed fatalities relating to the storm event, one in Gippsland floodwaters in Woodside and another in floodwaters off Maddens Bridge Road in Glenfyne, 45 km east of Warrnambool.

Approximately 200,000 customers were left without power on the night of 9 June, with more than 4,000 power-dependant customers being left without power at one time. This number increased to approximately 300,000 customers the following day.

A number of communities were isolated from any communication access, including landline, mobile phone, internet, emergency broadcast and Triple Zero. Several communities experienced power outages for many days and weeks. On 17 June, AusNet Services stated at least 3,000 of the households in the Dandenong Ranges could be without power for the next 3 weeks or until 10 July. The main suburbs without power included Ferny Creek, Kalorama, Mount Dandenong, Olinda, Sassafras, Sherbrooke, The Basin, Tremont, and Upwey.

There was significant damage to major road networks, as well at transport routes and other infrastructure. During the event, six water treatment plants lost main power and were required to operate on generators. Seventeen health services experienced disruptions to power supplies and were required to operate back-up generators. Eight schools in the Dandenong Ranges were closed because of the weather impacts. Many national parks were shut after being deemed inaccessible or dangerous.

Public information disseminated through various channels provided regular advice for people in impacted areas, including messages about emergency risk, potential health impacts, mental health support, power outage information and availability of relief and recovery supports. This included the an advisory notice warning people not to drink tap water in a number of locations, including Trentham, Kallista, Sherbrooke and The Patch.

The storm and associated flooding impacted the Yallourn mine in the Latrobe Valley, which supplies more than a fifth of Victoria’s energy. Cracks were identified in the wall of the mine, which had the potential to cause a collapse of the mine wall. The significant consequences had to be carefully managed, including the implications for supply of coal. On 17 June, a state of emergency was declared for energy. The declaration allowed Energy Australia to undertake emergency works and divert river water away from the mine.

The storm event also impacted the COVID-19 response through the closure of some testing sites and vaccination centres in the impact areas for a short period of time, although this had no effect on capacity or testing times.

As of 27 June, a total of 2,395 initial impact assessments had been undertaken across the state with 135 properties classified as damaged but habitable and 129 properties classified as damaged and uninhabitable.

Relief and recovery

On 9 and 10 June, response, relief and early recovery activities were initiated and taking place under state control arrangements. In the days following the storm, significant work was undertaken across the state to provide relief, commence clean up and support early recovery. A wide range of agencies and organisations provided relief to impacted community members, including food, accommodation, telecommunications access, alternative power sources and welfare support. Specialist resources were engaged to clear trees, stabilise roads, repair bridges and undertake other critical work. Power crews cleared multiple areas where trees have taken down powerlines, making repairs, restringing the lines, and testing them for safety.

The Victorian Government provided additional help to residents who were expected to be without power due to the devastating storms by distributing generators to households. The on-loan generators from the Victorian Government gave people who wanted to stay at home enough energy to power the basics like some lights, a microwave and a small heater.

On 17 June, Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) was requested to coordinate recovery and clean up from the event. From 18-21 June, BRV established a regional presence in the most storm-affected areas. On 25 June, transition from relief to recovery coordination formally commenced with the State Emergency Management Committee approving recovery governance.

Funding support

On 11 June, Victoria activated jointly funded Commonwealth State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements with the Commonwealth Government. Payments activated under these arrangements for the event included:

• Emergency relief payments provided assistance of up to $560 per adult and $280 per child (up to a maximum of $1960 per eligible family) to help meet immediate needs. As of 3 August 2021, 651 payments had been made of over $700,000.
• Emergency re-establishment assistance grants provided assistance for households of up to $42,250. The funding provided for a range of relief measures, including accommodation and repairing damaged houses. As of 3 August 2021, 40 payments had been made of over $150,000.

Joint Commonwealth and State Government support was provided for those impacted by the prolonged power outage. As of 19 July, a total of $11.2 million in Prolonged Power Outage Payment payments have been administered by AusNet Services to residents and businesses.

The Insurance Council of Australia declared the Victorian flood disaster of 9 June a catastrophe which triggered Insurance Council of Australia resources in coordinating insurers to work as a priority with people affected by the flood who had lodged insurance claims. As of 14 June, more than 6,500 claims had been made relevant to the impact of the 9 June storm and floods event.

On 1 July, the Commonwealth Government activated the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and the Disaster Recovery Allowance to support those most impacted by the storms and flooding in Victoria. Where eligible, people in the nominated municipalities directly impacted by the event were able to apply for one-off payments and income support.

In addition to relief supports previously announced, additional support payments announced in July included the council support fund ($8.2 million), clean up (initially $55.5 million and private property) and social recovery supports, including recovery case support ($17.55 million).

Multi agency collaboration and coordination

This event involved a huge collaborative effort across all emergency services and departments, including personnel from VICSES, Country Fire Authority, Fire Rescue Victoria, Victoria Police, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Parks Victoria, Emergency Management Victoria, Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority, Ambulance Victoria, BRV, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Department of Health, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Life Saving Victoria, and Australian Red Cross, Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Ministries and significant efforts by local councils.

More than 1,450 personnel responded to this event: comprising of 950 personnel in the field, and approximately 500 personnel supporting the response, including in the State Control Centre (SCC).

The SCC was activated to Tier 3, its highest level of activation, on 10 June in response to the severe weather impacts across Victoria. On 14 June, the SCC activation level was downgraded to Tier 2 to manage the impacts of this event.

Following the storm event, and to provide assistance and support to impacted Victorian communities, requests for Commonwealth assistance were made via Emergency Management Australia. On 16 June, the Emergency Management Commissioner made an initial request for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to assist with logistics and planning. On 18 June, the Emergency Management Commissioner made a further request for 120 ADF personnel to provide support to Victorian communities impacted by the storms. On 7 July, all ADF resources for this event were demobilised.

Recovery activities will continue for some time, with agencies working closely together to support the recovery needs of communities.