People in Sydney’s south-west have been told to evacuate, with emergency services warning they could soon be cut off by floodwaters, and those in nine other suburbs will receive text messages telling them to get ready to evacuate overnight.
Authorities are bracing for Sydney’s main water source, Warragamba Dam, and the Hawkesbury-Nepean river to overflow and torrential downpours to unleash widespread flash flooding across the state.
Sydney is expected to face flooding in the coming days. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
People in low-lying parts of Camden were told by the State Emergency Service to leave on Saturday evening, after the suburb received more than 75 millimetres of rainfall between 9am and 8pm on Saturday.
The SES also said it would send emergency alert text messages on Saturday to people who live along the Hawkesbury-Nepean river “in preparation for potential evacuations overnight and over the coming days as rain intensifies”.
People in Menangle, Liverpool, Milperra, Camden, North Richmond, Wallacia, Penrith, Sackville, Upper Colo and Windsor would be receiving text alerts, the SES said.
“If you receive a text message from +61 444 444 444, it’s an official alert that requires attention and to take action early,” the SES said in a statement.
With rain pounding the state incessantly, the federal government announced it was providing NSW with 100 Australian Defence Force troops and two helicopters capable of conducting night-time rescues.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said: “We all hope that these resources won’t be needed, but the point is that we’re making sure that we are ready if they are needed.”
Watt urged everyone in NSW to take the heavy rainfall seriously, saying: “Please, if it’s flooded, forget it. Be sensible when you’re on the road, stay off the roads if you can. We’re not exactly sure how this weather event will pan out, but it could be quite serious over the next couple of days.”
The State Emergency Service conducted at least three flood rescues across NSW on Saturday and received more than 240 requests for assistance.
NSW Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke warned the deluge could result in flash flooding, damaging winds and coastal erosion over the coming days, “making our coastline and our city very dangerous places to be in”.
Cooke said there was a “very real risk” of rivers flooding, saying: “This could occur anywhere from Newcastle and down into Jervis Bay.
“My message to everyone today is, if you have not yet been impacted by rainfall, don’t think you have been spared,” she said. “We may not have seen the worst of it yet.”
Cooke said the river system of most concern was the Hawkesbury-Nepean, warning it could reach major flood levels as early as overnight on Saturday.
“We may see significant spills from Warragamba Dam over the coming days, and so we are all nervously awaiting to see what eventuates,” she added.
Warragamba Dam last reached capacity and spilled over during the flood crisis in early March.
Cooke said the SES had helicopters, trucks and other assets strategically placed to ensure authorities could respond quickly if needed.
“Please be ready to evacuate on short notice,” she said.
“Please ensure that you prepare your properties as best you can and ... if in any doubt, please evacuate earlier. Don’t necessarily wait for us to put out an order, asking or suggesting that you leave.”
NSW Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke said there could be significant spills from the Warragamba Dam in the coming days. Credit:Nick Moir
The Bureau of Meteorology said major flooding was possible in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley from Sunday, with minor to moderate flooding expected along parts of the Wollombi Brook, Central Coast, Greater Sydney, South Coast and Central West.
Meteorologists are warning of six-hour rainfall totals of between 80 and 150 millimetres in Sydney and the Illawarra in the coming days.
Given the deluge is coinciding with the first weekend of school holidays, authorities are urging drivers to take extreme caution on the roads.
“We know floodwater is extremely dangerous, especially for drivers. If the road is flooded, turn around and find another way,” Transport for NSW’s Roger Weeks said.
In a clear criticism of the Morrison government’s handling of natural disasters, Watt said: “I think one of the things that we’ve learnt over the last couple of years is that when we don’t have a federal government that takes responsibility and isn’t proactive, bad things can happen.
“And this time, the Albanese government is determined to make sure that we are better prepared for natural disasters than we have been in the past, and that we are proactive when it comes to being prepared and being ready to take action.”
With Sally Rawsthorne and Pallavi Singhal
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Most Viewed in National
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMilQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zbWguY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL25zdy9kb24tdC10aGluay15b3UtdmUtYmVlbi1zcGFyZWQtZXZhY3VhdGlvbi13YXJuaW5nLWFzLWFkZi1oZWxpY29wdGVycy1yZWFkeS1mb3ItZmxvb2QtcmVzY3Vlcy0yMDIyMDcwMi1wNWF5anYuaHRtbNIBAA?oc=5
2022-07-02 10:41:21Z
1477725599
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Sydney’s south-west told to evacuate as ADF, helicopters ready for flood rescues - Sydney Morning Herald"
Post a Comment