Police and emergency services are urging the community not to take risks in the current flood conditions being experienced in north-eastern NSW.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning including heavy rainfall and damaging winds for the Northern Rivers, parts of the Mid North Coast and the Northern Tablelands. These regions have already experienced extensive rainfall totals, with the Lismore CBD and some surrounding areas isolated due to flood waters.
There are currently more than 15 Flood Evacuation Orders in place for the Richmond-Tweed and Clarence Nambucca regions, including for the townships of Lismore, South Lismore, North Lismore, Kyogle, Casino, Coraki, Tumbulgum, Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah, East Murwillumbah, South Murwillumbah, Condong, Billinudgel, Rocky Creek Dam, Ocean Shores, New Brighton, Brunswick Heads, South Golden Beach, Brushgrove, Cowper, Southgate, Iluka and Ulmarra.
Evacuation centres have been established at the following locations:
- Southern Cross University Lismore – P Block, Military Road, East Lismore. Only travel via Keen Street, Leycester Street and New Ballina Road via Lismore Heights.
- Casino High School – Queensland Road, Casino
- Woodburn Public School – Woodburn St, Woodburn
- Dunoon Recreation Centre – Cowley Road, Dunoon
- Uniting Hall Coraki – Adams Street, Coraki
- Rappville Public School – Lyons Street, Rappville
- Kyogle Memorial Hall – corner of Geneva Street and Summerland Way, Kyogle
- The Salvation Army Tweed Centre – corner of Leisure and Woodlands Drive, Banora Point
- Murwillumbah TAFE – Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah
- Ocean Shores Country Club – Orana Road, Ocean Shores
- Kingscliff TAFE – Cudgen Road, Kingscliff
- RSL Club Mullumbimby – Dalley Street, Mullumbimby
- Uki Public Hall – Kyogle Road, Uki
- Grafton Racecourse – Powell Street, Grafton
Several other Flood Warnings remain in place across the state – for the latest information on current warnings, visit the NSW SES website – www.ses.nsw.gov.au/.
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, said emergency services are continuing to assist people isolated and impacted during this evolving situation.
"The Lismore area is currently of greatest concern, with the Wilsons River expected to peak this afternoon and the township already significantly impacted by flood waters," Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.
"There are currently hundreds of calls for assistance, including persons requiring assistance as they are unable to leave their homes. We are asking everyone to be patient, during severe weather events, NSW Police are poised to assist the State Emergency Service, and we are currently working with them to assist as many people as we possibly can.
"The NSW SES are urging those who are unable to leave their homes to move to the highest, safest place possible. Police are observing people entering the swollen waterways to assist emergency services – we must continue to remind people to act responsibly and not to enter flood waters," Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
Police are also urging all those in north-east NSW between the QLD border and the Clarence Valley to avoid all non-essential travel, with several roads closed and impacted by flood waters.
The Public Information and Inquiry Centre (PIIC), has been activated to support the severe weather operation.
The principle function of the PIIC is to not only provide accurate, up-to-date general information to the public, but to also answer their inquiries regarding the flood event which has impacted on the community.
The Public Information and Inquiry Centre can be contacted by calling 1800 227 228.
Members of the public in flood affected areas should continue to listen to local radio stations, or check the websites listed below.
It should be noted this inquiry hotline does not replace the State Emergency Service emergency hotline.
Members of the public seeking emergency assistance during a flood or storm should call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500, or visit their website www.ses.nsw.gov.au.
The State Emergency Operations Centre at Homebush has also been stood up and will provide real-time assistance and intelligence to emergency services in the affected communities.
NSW Police remind people in flood affected areas to register their movements using the Register, Find, Reunite website – https://www.redcross.org.au/emergencies/about-register-find-reunite/ – which is a National system managed and operated by Australian Red Cross.
It is a service which registers, finds and reunites family, friends and loved ones after an Emergency. It allows people to:
- Register to let people know they are safe
- Find people who may be affected by an Emergency and know they are safe
- Reunite through a matching process which enables Police, with consent, to share details of family and friends with each other.
For the latest weather warnings, please visit the Bureau of Meteorology website: http://www.bom.gov.au/.
In life-threatening situations and emergencies, the public are advised to contact Triple Zero (000).
