Locals not waiting for cyclonic rain to flee floods
Jack Gramenz and Peter Bodkin |
Flood-weary residents facing another disastrous weather event have been getting out early, with thousands told to evacuate as the power goes out and a cyclone approaches.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to hit northern NSW on Saturday, but many communities are already facing heavy rain and the prospect of days-long power outages on Friday.
In Lismore, where several people died and more than 1000 homes were badly damaged during the 2022 floods, locals were told to evacuate by Thursday night from low-lying areas.
Major flooding is expected on the local river after 300mm of rain fell in some areas in a 24-hour period, with more to fall as the cyclone hits.
Several other rivers across northern NSW face a risk of rapid and dangerous rises during the state’s first cyclone in 35 years.
NSW SES acting chief superintendent Stuart Fisher said about 19,000 people were covered by evacuation orders by noon on Friday, and were taking them seriously.
“Overnight, we only had five flood rescues, that goes to show us that everyone is listening,” he said.
Resilient Lismore director Elly Bird told AAP the community appreciated the advance warning, but did not wait to be told.
“Our community has been preparing for almost a week now, and many people were fully evacuated before that order was made,” she said.
“It’s only the thinnest of silver linings from 2022, (but) we know really clearly how quickly things can change.”
The organisation has been relocating in preparation to assist residents and businesses access support and clean-up in the likely event floodwaters go over the town’s levee again.
“There’s a lot of anxiety in the community, and uncertainty, because we just don’t know how high the river might go,” Ms Bird said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns encouraged those evacuating to seek shelter with friends or family.
“There are emergency evacuation centres that are located if there are no alternatives,” he said.
“These are more of a life-raft, rather than a cruise ship.”
Greens MP Sue Higginson told AAP evacuation centres should have been set up earlier as the region finds itself back in the path of an extreme weather event.
“We need purpose-fitted, ready evacuation centres in the northern rivers, the case has well and truly been made.
“The evacuation centres have been absolutely struggling,” Ms Higginson said.
Alfred is expected to cross the coast north of Brisbane, and a cyclone warning is in place from north of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to near Grafton in northern NSW.
More than 300 schools have been closed statewide and are due to remain shut on Monday.
Communities face days without electricity as the cyclone damages network infrastructure.
Essential Energy reported 43,000 homes and businesses in northern NSW were disconnected on Friday morning.
Mr Minns said power had been restored to about 6500 by the afternoon, but it could be a while before crews are able to reconnect more.
“They’re going to do it as soon as possible, but they need to do it in a safe way,” Mr Minns said.
AAP
