Storms cause flooding and damage at Stawell and Ararat

Some residents reported rainfall of more than 40 millimetres across the region, with most falling in less than an hour.

Stawell SES deputy controller Brody Stewart said parts of a supermarket roof came down during the storm, but that the damage across the town was minimal.

"We kind of found that most of the rain came in a half-an-hour block, and our jobs followed that for the next 45 minutes or so," he said.

"There was flooding ... but mainly just the supermarket there was flooding, and near the Gift Hotel.

"Other than that I think there will be some small cleanups at some houses and places, but nothing too major."

The Gift Hotel hotel manager Steve Johnson said it had only required some "mopping up", and that the pub would be reopened for takeaway meals by Saturday afternoon.

The Stawell Gymnastics Club was also affected, with Cato Park Lake overflowing and water flooding the facility.

"At this stage I'm not sure how bad it is," Stawell Gymanstics Club head coach Elissa Chalmers said.

"Half of the gym mats got soaked, so we're trying to drain them out. But this is the second or third time that some of these mats have been hit, so we might have to replace them.

"The worst thing will probably be the smell that will come with the water damage and any mold that accumulates with it.

"We can't really get people in to help at the moment either, because we're not supposed to be near each other."

Mr Stewart said it was "probably the last thing people need at this time" amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Stewart also wanted to remind the public that requests for assistance can be made by calling 132 500, not through social media or by calling the SES unit's landline.

SES Horsham regional office manager Kendra Clegg said there were no calls for assistance in Horsham or the surrounding areas.

"However it did seem to target the Stawell are quite a bit, with rising flood waters and flash flooding in patches there," she said.