SES crews help flood victims

ORANGE ANGELS: Logan SES personnel helped in the clean-up effort after flood waters receded.

DURING most days, Gemma Schmidt spends her time being a mother, looking after her two children.

But last week, the 27-year-old from Holmview was one of 13 Logan State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers who were ankle deep in mud, looking after the heartbroken residents of south-west Queensland after flood waters ravaged their towns.

Four volunteers were sent to Charleville and Roma, and nine helped out in Mitchell, where Mrs Schmidt was.

"When we got to Mitchell, the sight of the town was just devastating," she said.

"70% of the town went under so basically everywhere you looked there was soot and dirt and you couldn't even see the road because it looked like everything had been turned upside down."

Mrs Schmidt, who is studying to become a police officer, decided to join the Logan SES after last year's devastating floods in Brisbane, saying she wanted to give back and help people.

So when the Logan SES received a call for help, she was more than happy to put down her name.

"We were there for five days and I am very glad I went," she said.

"All of the people were so grateful that we were there to help and all the other numerous services like the Army, police, fire brigade, Red Cross and Origin."