IN JANUARY 2011, the Wimmera experienced its biggest floods on record.
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A massive deluge of rain caused widespread inundation and millions of dollars of damage to council assets, farms and property owners.
The floods attracted nationwide and international attention.
The one-in-200-year flood peaked in Horsham on January 18, with up to 45,000 megalitres of water flowing down the Wimmera River in a day.
In Warracknabeal, it started with about 100mm of rain falling on January 10.
The downpour caused flash flooding in the town’s Scott Street shopping strip and residential areas.
Dorothy Parsons’ Lyle Street home was among the many inundated by flood water.
Water rose through floorboards in her bedroom and guest room and backed up sewage to her indoor and outdoor toilets.
Her house had just started to dry out after being flooded two months before.
Mrs Parsons said she felt the town was safer now than five years ago.
“I think they've pretty well got their act together,” she said.
“People make sure the gutters are clean from build-up and they let water in Yarriambiack Creek go when it gets too high.
“We didn’t get much warning with the flood, but it’s just Mother Nature.
“I don’t want to see another flood in my lifetime, but I do wish we'd get a bit more rain.”
Glenorchy’s Daryl Sylvester said the sentiment was largely unchanged in the area since the floods.
Some houses in the town had up to two feet of water in them.
“They did a flood study but it wasn't feasible to do anything for the town,” he said.
“There was talk about raising houses but I think cost ruled it out.
“Honestly I don't think they could do anything other than lifting houses with the way the town is. It’s just one of those things when you live near a river.”
Mr Sylvester said the way residents helped each other during the floods was commendable. “I don't think anybody could have done better,” he said.
“We got together and did what we could. You just drop everything and do what needs to be done.
“The town was flooded badly in 1909, but the 2011 flood was worse.
“It could happen again with the way forecasters are talking. There is talk about lots of rain at the end of this month or early February.
“I hope that’s wrong, but they have been talking about it for four or five months.
“You never know if we will get another flood that big.”
Former Dadswells Bridge resident Lorraine Melville rallied with fellow residents when floods hit their town.
Mrs Melville owned and managed Orchid Lane Cottages. She wrote a poem at the time detailing the community spirit in the town during the floods.
“We have since moved to Horsham. We would have moved anyway regardless of the floods,” she said.
“But we still go back and forwards, and we are Dadswells Bridge at heart.
“I think people there are a lot more aware now that it can happen, and they are definitely better prepared.
“The community spirit is still there, and if something happens like that, it often does bring out the best in people.”