Weather conditions are expected to continue easing throughout New South Wales on Friday, but multiple flood warnings remain in place.
Major flooding continues along the Wollombi Brook at Bulga, southwest of Singleton, and the Barwon River at Mungindi, near the Queensland border.
The Hunter River is causing moderate flooding at Maitland, where river levels are close to the peak.
The Hawkesbury River has fallen below the major flood level, but moderate flooding continues at North Richmond, Windsor and Sackville.
Minor flooding is occurring along the Colo River at Putty Road.
While the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a break from continuous rainfall, saturated soil and swollen rivers may lead to renewed risk of flooding into next week.
There are also separate hazardous surf warnings for the Macquarie, Hunter, Sydney, Illawarra, Batemans and Eden coasts, impacting activities such as rock fishing, boating and swimming.
The State Emergency Service (SES) has directed people to evacuate from a number of areas at risk of being isolated.
Those who don’t leave may be trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous to organise rescues.
The recommendation is then to stay outside of the flood areas, with family, friends or at accommodation. If that’s not possible, have been made available.
Source: NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service
If you need to leave your home, this is the advice provided by the State Emergency Service:
- Take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with you.
- Relocate other personal possessions to a safer/higher place.
- Leave as early as possible to avoid congested roads.
- Take drinking water and food due to possible long travel times.
- Share this information with family, friends and neighbours and help others where possible.
If you are in a life-threatening emergency situation, call Triple Zero (000). Call the NSW SES on 132 500 if you have experienced damage from storms, wind, hail or a fallen tree and if a tree branch is threatening your property or a person’s safety.