The all-terrain vehicle (ATV) joins the local SES fleet thanks to a grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.

Local Controller Jane Gibson says it is a welcome addition to SES equipment stocks.

“This is the first ATV in the South East Region and means we won’t have to borrow from other regions anymore,” Ms Gibson said.

“It will benefit us in so many of the jobs we do in the community, including missing person searches and delivering supplies to our volunteers in difficult terrain or large operational areas.

“We are often called upon to provide assistance in the city’s state forests and parks, and while they are beautiful, their tricky terrain makes them hard to access.”

Over the past year, the Logan SES Unit – which incorporates six groups across the city – has conducted or helped with almost 30 land searches and carried out three patients when vehicle access wasn’t possible.

“Our volunteers provided more than 2000 hours of time for local land searches and gave a further 1200 hours to support other agencies including Queensland Police Service, Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services,” Ms Gibson said.

City of Logan Mayor Darren Power said the SES played a valuable and often underestimated role in the community.

“They’re called the orange angels, and for good reason,” Councillor Power said.

“Whether they’re tarping roofs after a storm, delivering supplies during floods or supporting a missing person search, their efforts are appreciated.”

Cr Power encouraged residents to continue being prepared for summer storms and other emergency events, especially after the devastating storms that impacted the city’s south-western suburbs in December.

Helpful advice is available on the Disaster Dashboard.