Like residents in most parts of Orange, the Robsons experienced wind gusts which Orange City SES controller Kim Stevens believed to be in excess of 100 kilometres per hour.

The winds caused substantial damage to a large portion of the Robsons’ concrete and steel house.

Mr Robson said the couple’s friends had been visiting from Mudgee when the south easterly wind hit the house at around 7:30 am yesterday.

“I was in the vineyard when I got a call from my son James who was also working on the vineyard and he said you’d better come up quick,” Mr Robson said.

“When I got there I was really worried ... corrugated iron can be deadly stuff ... all I cared about was that everyone was safe.”

Mr Robson said the house, which is perched on a hill, has endured many strong winds in the past although “never from that direction”.

Quick work by the SES ensured that a second section of the house’s roof which had also started to lift was not lost in the wind.

“The SES has done a wonderful job, all of them are volunteers and have had to cancel their day at work to help us,” Mr Robson said.

“When it happened I rang the builder and he said that this is a job that only the SES can handle.”

Winds also caused large gum trees to fall onto three cars parked in the Civic Centre car park yesterday.

A blue Toyota Rav 4 and silver Toyota Corolla were crushed by the large trees while a white Hyundai Excel was also damaged.

Attempts by Orange City Council staff to find the cars’ owners soon after the accident proved unsuccessful.

Mr Stevens confirmed the SES had experienced a “very busy day” yesterday.

The SES team were called to a fallen tree in Hill Street, roof damage to a house in Settlers Close, and a damaged roof at Robar Distribution, although workers there had already secured the scene before the team arrived.

SES and Country Energy also responded to a call from Calare Nursing Home in March Street.

A large elm tree had fallen on a power line however it was quickly removed and normal service resumed.

Areas of Orange Showground were also affected by the winds with temporary stables blown over.