The South Australian State Emergency Service (SES) has a special telephone number for emergency assistance.

If you need emergency assistance with flood or storm assistance, search and rescue, land search, marine rescue etc, call 132 500 from anywhere in South Australia, 24 hours a day, for the cost of a local call. (Calls from mobiles may be higher.)

SES Units in South Australia cover a very wide range of rescue services.

SES volunteers (recognisable in their orange overalls) are trained to provide temporary emergency assistance to help people protect themselves and protect their property from further damage.

In addition to those listed above, SES assists with such incidents as a tree down on a building, damaged roofs, rising floodwater, general building damage, trees down and blocking access, and any storm damage that may be a threat to life or property.

The role of the SES volunteer team is to make the scene safe.

It is the property owner’s responsibility to arrange for the removal of debris and permanent repairs to their property.

There is no cost for SES assistance and all volunteers are trained to national standards.

The SES is a community-based organisation meaning that the volunteers are locals with local knowledge and are aware of the critical rescue requirements of your area.

Please note that triple zero (000) is for fire, police or ambulance and should be used in a life-threatening emergency.

Should you have general queries, you can still contact your SES Unit on its non-emergency office number.

SES Units are always on the look out for new volunteers so check out the SES website, or contact your nearest SES regional office, if you would like more information.

If you would like to learn more about 132 500 and the South Australian SES, please visit www.ses.sa.gov.au.