Urgent warnings ahead of storm season for WA

Prepare now before it's too late. That's a message authorities want you to know ahead of this year's winter storm season forecast to hit the southwest of WA in the next week. We can see damaging to or destructive winds, wind gusts 9000 kilometres an hour or even higher. We can see heavy rainfall that can cause flash flooding. And we also see seas where it might feel like we've been living in an endless dry summer. We're being warned not to be complacent. We typically see more damage in the early stages of winter because people haven't prepared their homes. Our State Emergency Service volunteers responded to around 1000 calls for assistance last year. And I think that's why we're asking people to repair flash flooding, a risk too with above average rainfall predicted. The dryness will cause the the ground to soak up a lot more water initially, but once that's saturated then that that rainfall can run off and into river systems, into drains. Emergency services are particularly concerned about the amount of dead or dying trees across Perth and regional WA from our warm and dry conditions with branches it could break or fall off in strong winds. Causing major damage Most important is don't put yourself in any danger. Call your insurance company or if if the damage is severe, call the SES to come and attend. Emma Griffiths 9 News.