Strong winds and cold weather to impact flood clean up
Maeve Bannister |
Heavy winds and cold weather will throw a spanner in the works of clean-up efforts under way following deadly floods that swept through coastal communities.
About 32,000 people remain isolated by floodwaters, the NSW State Emergency Service says.
But many communities are preparing to clean up the damage after waters begin to recede.
About 10,000 properties are estimated to be affected, according to initial SES assessments.
While the area was over the worst of the weather, SES commissioner Mike Wassing warned communities were not out of the woods yet.
Forecast strong winds and a cold front across parts of NSW are expected to impact clean-up efforts.
“We are into clean-up operations actively in these areas that have been flooded and part of that clean-up operation is making sure that the community and emergency services are safe in doing that,” Mr Wassing said.
In Taree, Damian Newell and his family returned to their home, which now resembles a rubbish dump as their town continues to clean up.
Months worth of rain was dumped in a matter of days in some areas, with five people killed during the floods that followed.
Mr Newell and his family evacuated their Taree home on Tuesday, before the Manning River reached its highest level on record.
“Our front yard at the moment looks like a rubbish dump,” he told AAP.
Some sentimental items placed up high survived.
“All the mattresses and everything, that’s all gone.”
“Ridiculous” quotes for contents insurance at the rented home were too much.
“We ran the risk. It is what it is,” Mr Newell said.
Almost 200 additional emergency service responders from Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and New Zealand have been sent to the area.
The additional resources will help the SES continue to assess more than 10,000 properties for damage.
“This will supplement particularly our clean-up operations which will be fantastic to have working with the local communities,” Mr Wassing said.
“It will also give us additional storm preparation with the potential winds coming in the next few days that we will have to be careful of.”
The agency has responded to more than 7200 incidents and conducted 774 flood rescues.
In the past 24 hours, there were 328 incidents reported to the SES including 16 flood rescues.
Affected residents are urged to remain vigilant and to not enter floodwaters.
“Flood rescues are predominantly through smaller road networks where people are trying to get back into their home or into their community that is not ready to get back into,” Mr Wassing said.
Road closures were there for a reason, not to keep people out unnecessarily, he added.
“When we can, we will let people back in. We are not about keeping people out,” he said.
Premier Chris Minns visited Taree, promising the NSW government will help the community get back on its feet as soon as possible.
Hardship and disaster grants are planned to become available in the coming days and efforts to improve flood resilience in Taree and other communities will follow.
AAP
