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Rain reprieve expected for north NSW after deadly flooding ‘smashed’ communities NSW floods: rain reprieve expected for north NSW after deadly flooding ‘smashed’ communities
(about 3 hours later)
Severe weather warning for areas further south after rain left three dead, 48,000 stranded and water levels at their highest for 100 yearsSevere weather warning for areas further south after rain left three dead, 48,000 stranded and water levels at their highest for 100 years
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A reprieve from heavy rainfall is expected to arrive on the New South Wales mid-north coast on Friday after three days of flooding, as authorities desperately search for a missing man with three people confirmed dead. The death toll in the NSW flood disaster has risen to four after a man’s body was found in a car in floodwaters near Coffs Harbour on Friday morning.
Residents in the region are hoping for easing conditions on Friday after the NSW premier, Chris Minns, said on Thursday flooding had “smashed through” communities with “levels of rise in local tributaries, creeks [and] rivers that we haven’t seen since 1920”. Police said a passing driver saw a vehicle that had run off the Orara Way at Nana Glen about 30km from Coffs Harbour. Officers found the body of a man, believed to be in his 70s, inside. Police said he appeared to be the only occupant of the vehicle.
“Many people would have never seen this level of inundation or flooding in their communities,” Minns said. The bodies of three other people have been found since the flooding: a man found in Rosewood likely in his 30s who was missing since Wednesday night, a 63-year-old man at a home in Moto, and a 60-year-old woman who was caught in flood water travelling from Sydney to Coffs Harbour in a 4WD on Wednesday night.
A 49-year-old man who failed to come home after walking near a flooded road at Nymboida is still missing.
“Sadly, there’s a number of people that have lost their lives as a result of this severe weather event and our condolences go out to friends and family of those that have lost their lives,” NSW State Emergency Service deputy commissioner Damien Johnston said on Friday morning.
“There are a number that are still missing as well and that search continues.”
The trough that has battered the mid-north coast region was moving southwards on Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology said while this meant rain had eased on the mid-north coast there were still several flood warnings in place and conditions were dangerous.
“Quite a few of those are still seeing flood levels at major classifications and some of those rivers are only falling very slowly,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Jane Golding said.
Heavy rainfall was concentrated over the Central Coast, Sydney and south coast areas on Friday morning, with between 60 and 100mm falling in the Sydney metro region and 179mm at North Richmond.
The Nepean dam had spilled and Johnston said the Warragamba dam may spill on Friday or Saturday, however that had become less likely.
“We’ll continue to monitor and liaise with the community to make sure you’re aware of impacts that may result,” Johnston said.
“Stay vigilant. Do not drive through floodwaters. I thank you for heeding our warnings. The community has worked well with the New South Wales SES. Do not drive, walk, play, do other things with the waters. They are dangerous.”
He said the SES had performed 177 flood rescues in the past 24 hours and received 535 calls for assistance. More than 150 flood warnings were in place, 40 of those at emergency level, and about 50,000 people were currently isolated by floodwaters.
Johnston also advised those going back into an inundated home to be cautious.
“There are many risks that come with flood waters, if your home or premise has been inundated,” he said. “Flood waters have contaminants. There can be vermin, snakes and other vermin as well. So you need to assess those risks. Electricity can also pose a danger as well so when you return.”
Johnston said a priority on Friday was resupplying food and essential medications to isolated communities.
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However, the coastal trough was heading south and the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning last night for heavy rain for the Illawarra, parts of the Hunter, Sydney, south coast, central tablelands, southern tablelands and Snowy Mountains. There had been more than 5,700 calls for assistance recorded, more than 670 flood rescues utilising nine helicopters, 500 boats and ground crew. There were 2,500 personnel, including 2,200 SES workers, in the field.
There was also a warning of strong wind for Friday for the Hunter coast, Sydney coast, Illawarra coast, Batemans coast and Eden coast.
The bodies of three people have been found since the flooding: a man found in Rosewood likely in his 30s missing since Wednesday night, a 63-year-old man at a home in Moto, and a 60-year-old woman who was caught in flood water travelling from Sydney to Coffs Harbour in a 4WD on Wednesday night.
A 49-year-old man who failed to come home after walking near a flooded road at Nymboida is still missing.
The NSW State Emergency Service said on Thursday afternoon that 48,000 people still remained isolated by flood waters in the region.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, after rain of up to half a metre in some places since Sunday, there is expected to be a reprieve on Friday, as the coastal trough moves south towards the Victorian border.
The bureau said conditions were set to ease during Thursday night, with rainfall shifting to parts of the southern Hunter, Blue Mountains and southern highlands. On Friday morning, heavy rainfall will extend further south to the southern tablelands and inland parts of the south coast.
For the mid-north coast, there was expected to be isolated areas of heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding up until midnight, with six-hourly totals of between 60mm and 100mm of rain likely.
As the system moves down the coast, it is not expected to have the same level of flooding, but up to 100mm of rain over 24 hours are expected in those areas.
Major flooding is occurring on the Manning, Paterson, Hastings, Williams, Nambucca and Macleay rivers. Renewed river rises were likely into the weekend, the NSW SES assistant commissioner, Dean Storey, said.
“Although rainfall may be reprieving in some areas, we haven’t seen the end of renewed river rises in northern NSW and people should not become complacent,” Storey said.
There were 149 active warnings on Thursday evening, with 37 at emergency warning, and 86 at watch and act.
There had been more than 4,600 calls for assistance recorded, and 600 flood rescues utilising nine helicopters, 500 boats and ground crew. There were 2,500 personnel, including 2,200 SES workers, in the field.
Telecommunications services had been affected by the flooding, but the NSW SES had been door-knocking residents in the affected areas.Telecommunications services had been affected by the flooding, but the NSW SES had been door-knocking residents in the affected areas.
There are 15 evacuation centres open, including at Dungog, Gloucester, Taree, Wingham, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.There are 15 evacuation centres open, including at Dungog, Gloucester, Taree, Wingham, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.
Emergency services personnel from Victoria were travelling to NSW on Thursday night to assist in the response, with 24 en route including staff from the Victorian SES, Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority.Emergency services personnel from Victoria were travelling to NSW on Thursday night to assist in the response, with 24 en route including staff from the Victorian SES, Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority.
On Thursday evening, the NSW police northern regions commander, David Waddell, announced the third reported death in the floods, which have been brought on by three consecutive days of rain.On Thursday evening, the NSW police northern regions commander, David Waddell, announced the third reported death in the floods, which have been brought on by three consecutive days of rain.
He said the woman, who was yet to be formally identified, was located in Brooklana, west of Coffs Harbour. Her family has been informed.He said the woman, who was yet to be formally identified, was located in Brooklana, west of Coffs Harbour. Her family has been informed.
Police earlier said a body, believed to be that of a man in his 30s missing since Wednesday night, was found near Rosewood on Thursday morning. The body of a 63-year-old man was found on Wednesday at a home affected by flood waters on North Moto Road at Moto.Police earlier said a body, believed to be that of a man in his 30s missing since Wednesday night, was found near Rosewood on Thursday morning. The body of a 63-year-old man was found on Wednesday at a home affected by flood waters on North Moto Road at Moto.
The 60-year-old woman had travelled with a police officer towards Coffs Harbour at 7pm on Wednesday night until they reached flood waters at Wild Cattle Creek Bridge. The officer was in a BMW sedan and could not continue. The woman was in a 4WD and decided to continue after the officer checked the water levels, Wardell said.The 60-year-old woman had travelled with a police officer towards Coffs Harbour at 7pm on Wednesday night until they reached flood waters at Wild Cattle Creek Bridge. The officer was in a BMW sedan and could not continue. The woman was in a 4WD and decided to continue after the officer checked the water levels, Wardell said.
The woman called 30 minutes later saying she was in trouble near Brooklana, but could not be located after a search. Her vehicle was found at 2pm on Thursday.The woman called 30 minutes later saying she was in trouble near Brooklana, but could not be located after a search. Her vehicle was found at 2pm on Thursday.
Waddell pleaded with people not to enter the flood waters.Waddell pleaded with people not to enter the flood waters.
“It is a really dangerous, once-in-a-lifetime event, and there’s been some tragedy surrounding this death, obviously, the police officer who spoke the woman is very traumatised, and we’re wrapping support services around him.”“It is a really dangerous, once-in-a-lifetime event, and there’s been some tragedy surrounding this death, obviously, the police officer who spoke the woman is very traumatised, and we’re wrapping support services around him.”
The federal government activated disaster recovery allowance for people who live or work in the Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings, MidCoast and Dungog local government areas, available from 2pm Monday 26 May.The federal government activated disaster recovery allowance for people who live or work in the Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings, MidCoast and Dungog local government areas, available from 2pm Monday 26 May.
People who have lost income as a direct result of the event may be eligible for up to 13 weeks of income support for workers and sole traders. Claims can be made online through myGov or the myGov app.People who have lost income as a direct result of the event may be eligible for up to 13 weeks of income support for workers and sole traders. Claims can be made online through myGov or the myGov app.
This is in addition to the joint federal and state disaster recovery funding available across 16 local government areas, which is administered by the NSW government.This is in addition to the joint federal and state disaster recovery funding available across 16 local government areas, which is administered by the NSW government.
Mutual obligation requirements have been suspended for job seekers in the Hunter region and the mid-north coast until 29 May. The federal government also said people who need to change or pause Centrelink debt payments can do so online or in the mobile app, or by calling 1800 076 07.Mutual obligation requirements have been suspended for job seekers in the Hunter region and the mid-north coast until 29 May. The federal government also said people who need to change or pause Centrelink debt payments can do so online or in the mobile app, or by calling 1800 076 07.