Ten million Australians are currently under a weather warning amid flood disaster and mass evacuations.

Ten million Australians are currently under a weather warning amid flood disaster and mass evacuations. Source: AAP

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Ten million Australians are currently under a weather warning amid flood disaster and mass evacuations

Residents in regional NSW and western Sydney have been ordered to evacuate as wild weather lashes the state, while south-east Queensland is also on alert for flooding.

Ten million Australians are currently under a weather warning amid flood disaster and mass evacuations.

Ten million Australians are currently under a weather warning amid flood disaster and mass evacuations. Source: AAP

Published 22 March 2021 8:38am
Updated 22 March 2021 10:08pm
Source: SBS

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22 Mar 2021 11:39am
'I know people will feel like this is a breaking point,' Gladys Berejiklian says
Ms Berejiklian said the weather situation was "evolving" across the state.

There are major flood warnings remain for the Nepean, Hawksebury and Mid-North Coast regions, with severe weather alerts now in place for the Illawarra and the South Coast. 

The premier said heavy rain is expected to continue until Wednesday or Thursday, however this could look different for different parts of the state, with authorities concerned about the outlook for the Illarwarra and South Coast regions. 

She said she "doesn't know any time in the state's history where we have have these extreme weather conditions in such quick succession in the middle of a pandemic". 

"I just want to say to everybody across the state who is currently living in fear and anxiety that all of us are thinking of you. Some communities battered by the bushfires are now being battered by the floods and deep drought prior to that," she said. 

"I don’t know any time in the state’s history where we have had these extreme weather conditions in such quick succession in the middle of a pandemic.

"They are challenging times for NSW but we have also demonstrated our capacity to be resilient and I know for many people, they will feel like it is a breaking point. 

"When you have been through three or four incidents that are life-changing on top of each other, it can make you feel like you are a breaking point. Please know that we are thinking of you and getting support as much as we can."

22 Mar 2021 11:28am
About 18,000 evacuations amid 'challenging times' for NSW, premier says
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is speaking with reporters in Sydney. 

She said around 15,000 people have so far been evacuated from their homes on the Mid-North Coast and another 3,000 from the Nepean-Richmond Valley and the Hawskebury regions. 

"We ask everybody who are in those flood areas to please be cautious and to listen to the orders. Please be ready if you have been asked to be on alert, be sure you are packed and ready to go in case you need to be evacuated at short notice," she said. 

Ms Berejiklian said emergency accommodation will be made available in evacuation centres if impacted residents cannot stay with family and friends. 

22 Mar 2021 11:08am
'I have never seen rainfall like this,' Mid-North Coast police commander says
Superintendent Shane Cribb, the police commander of the Mid-North Coast district, has told the ABC this is the biggest flooding event he has seen in his career. 

"I have never seen rainfall like this. I have worked in a number of floods and this is the biggest one I have worked in in my career, so, yes, it is extensive and serious," he said. 

Superintendent Cribb said emergency crews have worked shifts of more than 24 hours to help affected communities, but some people remain isolated by floodwaters. 

"We have got some townships that have been isolated for a number of days now, for example we have a town with no water, so we need to come up with away to get water into that township," he said. 

"Today, our main aim is to formulate a number of plans where we can provide some restocking into those isolated people and those isolated communities."

He said the small town of King Creek is isolated, so crews are now working to get supplies into the area. 

"Then the area of North Shore is isolated. They do not have any power. We are working tirelessly today to ensure we can get that support that they required today," he said. 

Mr Cribb said while emergency services have not been able to conduct proper assessments, he estimates "thousands" of properties will be damaged by floodwaters. 

22 Mar 2021 10:54am
Scale of flooding shown, as NSW RFS crews approach Taree
The NSW Rural Fire Service has shared footage showing the scale of flooding the Mid-North Coast.

Much of the region burnt out at the end of 2019 is now underwater, AAP reports.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday said parts of the Mid-North Coast were facing a "one-in-100-year event".

"Whilst we don't think things will worsen on the Mid-North Coast, definitely conditions will continue," she said.

The below video shows NSW RFS aviation crew approaching Taree yesterday. 

22 Mar 2021 10:32am
Scott Morrison says the federal government stands 'ready to assist'
The prime minister told 2GB this morning he is expecting requests for the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) help with the flood recovery effort.

"We have had no requests at this point, but we expect later today we will start getting requests with the recovery operations on the other side, so we're readying ourselves for that," Mr Morrison said.

"We've had, on stand-by, helicopters and others to support with search and rescue and that's been happening for the last few days, I've been taking briefings on this for several days now."

He said the NSW government had significant resources to deal with the floods.


"Should they need anything further then I have no doubt they will request, and we'll move very quickly," he said.

22 Mar 2021 10:27am
'Extraordinary' rainfall along the NSW coast: BOM
It has already been a tough week for emergency workers and residents as we see "extraordinary" rainfall along the NSW coast. 

According to the weather bureau, some locations around Port Macquarie on the Mid-North Coast have seen almost 900 mm in the almost six days from 9am on Tuesday to 3am this morning.

That includes 883mm at Redoak and 880mm at Comboyne Public School. 

22 Mar 2021 10:16am
Schools closed across NSW today
About 150 schools will be closed across the state today, including public and independent schools in parts of northern NSW, the Hunter, the Central Coast and western Sydney. 

But with the extreme wet weather continuing, decisions will be made hourly on further closures. 

"Safety has to come first," Education MInister Sarah Mitchell told the Seven network this morning. 

You can find a list of the closures
here
. 

22 Mar 2021 10:00am
'Potentially a very dangerous situation': David Littleproud
Speaking to the ABC this morning, Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the floods could get "very bad". 

"This potentially is a very dangerous situation that everyone needs to understand the magnitude and gravity of what could become over the coming 24 to 48 hours," he said. 

"... To to put into perspective some of the gravity of this, the Hawkesbury-Nepean system, if we get rainfall potentially in the wrong areas, there are over 54,000 residents that could be impacted. So this is a very large event that we have to understand a lot is going to have to happen over the coming 24-48 hours."

Mr Littleproud said the federal government is working closely with the NSW government to make sure the appropriate resources are supplied. 

 

22 Mar 2021 9:47am
The situation on the NSW Mid-North Coast this morning
Here's a brief look at the situation on the NSW Mid-North Coast this morning:

Eight evacuation orders are in place for low lying areas of Kempsey, Macksville, Port Macquarie, the lower Macleay, Wauchope and Rawdon Island, Taree and Wingham.

People are being asked to more possessions above the predicted flood height, take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with them and stay with family or friends, or head to evacuation centres.

Almost 200 NSW schools will be closed today, but decisions will be made hourly on further closures.

Heavy rain is likely to lead to flash flooding and will remain a serious risk for the Northern Rivers and Mid-North Coast today and tomorrow, The Bureau of Meteorology warned.

"We have a number of areas that we're monitoring at the moment, but, of course, in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley we have a number of evacuation orders and warnings current at this time," NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan told the ABC.

"It is likely that there will be more evacuations today in low-lying areas. So we just are urging people to be vigilant and keep an awareness of what is happening in their area."

READ MORE

Communities on NSW's mid-north coast ordered to evacuate amid catastrophic flooding



Stay safe, and we'll bring you all the latest updates throughout the day. 

22 Mar 2021 8:49am
Welcome to the SBS News live blog
Good morning and welcome to the SBS News live blog.

We'll be bringing you live updates as NSW grapples with heavy rainfall and flooding, with the State Emergency Service warning the deluge will continue and more evacuations are likely.

AAP reports that evacuation orders are already in place for low lying areas of Kempsey, Macksville, Port Macquarie, the lower Macleay, Taree, Wingham, Wauchope and Rawdon Island on the Mid-North Coast, as well as parts of Penrith and other areas along the Nepean River.

Communities along the Hawkesbury River are also bracing for once in a generation flooding that could displace thousands of residents and disrupt utilities for months.

Meanwhile, Queensland is facing its own dangerous rain event, with storms forecast from the Sunshine Coast down to the NSW border on Monday.

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