‘Quite a bit of mess’: Clean-up underway in Geelong after savage storms

The clean-up is underway after storms lashed the state again last night, causing extensive flooding, power outages and fallen trees.

Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula bore the brunt of the storm with torrential rain causing widespread flooding.

Two homes were struck by lightning.

There was 34.4mm of rainfall recorded in 30 minutes at St Arnaud, 38 mm in 60 minutes at Geelong and 28.7 mm in 30 minutes at Moolap.

Newsagent in Highton — one of Geelong’s hardest hit suburbs — says he saw collapsed brick fences, gardens strewn across roads and manholes lifted from drains while delivering newspapers this morning.

“There was quite a bit of mess,” he told Neil Mitchell.

Press PLAY below to hear how Geelong is looking after the storms

The SES has responded to more than 450 calls for help including several roof collapses, while police and fire crews had to rescue drivers stranded trying to drive their cars through flood waters.

SES state agency commander Jackson Bell says about 300 calls were from the Geelong region.

“It was quite a significant event last night in Geelong, and we’re planning for similar this afternoon. It’s probably going to kick off about lunchtime and move eastwards throughout the day, so we’re starting to put planning preparations in place to make sure we can respond accordingly,” he said.

Most call outs were for trees down on roads and cars impacted by floodwaters, but at a 10-pin bowling centre, the roof collapsed.

“Thankfully there were no injuries there,” Mr Bell said.

Press PLAY below to hear more on last night’s SES call-outs and a warning about storms forecast today