There are calls for the state government to issue a disaster declaration following wild storms in the state's north on Sunday. Emergency crews have worked through the day to clean-up debris in Carinda, a remote town with a population under 200.
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00:00Sunday's storm has left much of Corinda in ruins.
00:06It was like an explosion.
00:07Next thing the wind, boom, in come my window and out went my veranda.
00:11Even so, Bill Tanner considers himself lucky.
00:14I was going to have a nanny nap.
00:16I decided against it. I was lucky, wasn't I?
00:18Because it went straight in onto my double bed.
00:20He's now sleeping in a bus provided by the town publican.
00:23Just one example of the community pitching in.
00:26It's run so smoothly.
00:28The shires dropped off, bunches of water, fuel, gloves,
00:33pretty much anything that we could need to clean up the town
00:36and get in and get it fixed.
00:39We've got 40 SES members on the ground today
00:41and they'll be assisting the community in responding to jobs.
00:44Those jobs include getting the power back on.
00:46New poles have been installed after some snapped in the wind.
00:49Asbestos is also being assessed given the age of the damaged buildings.
00:54If anyone is concerned, we can come around and have a look,
00:57deal with it and render it safe.
00:59The state opposition and local independent MP
01:02are calling for more government support
01:04and an official disaster declaration.
01:06The disaster declarations open up a range of different assistance
01:09that can be available from the federal government,
01:11so it's important that we can assess and quantify the damage that's occurred.
01:15While the immediate focus is on the cleanup,
01:18state and federal ministers say assessments are taking place
01:21to determine the level of support needed.
01:24Even though we are small, we have so much heart and spirit.
01:27With the power coming back on shortly before sunset,
01:30the town is now ready for the next stage of its recovery.