More Northern NSW Residents Told To Evacuate Immediately As New Floods Threaten The Region

lismore flood evacuation northern nsw

Parts of northern NSW that were devastated by floods only weeks ago have just been ordered to evacuate immediately as catastrophic rain continues to fall. Can this storm front fuck off and give these people a break???

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued severe weather warnings for the Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands, some of the Mid North Coast in NSW and southeast Queensland on Monday morning.

NSW SES followed these warnings with evacuation orders for multiple areas on Monday night and Tuesday morning. North Lismore was told to evac at 9pm on Monday. Low-lying parts of Billinudgel were then told to evacuate at 5am on Tuesday as well as parts of Tumbulgum at 6am and Mullumbimby at 7am.

“Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast to develop over northern parts of northeast New South Wales later today and into early Tuesday,” BOM’s warning earlier this week said.

“Locally intense rainfall leading to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is possible with thunderstorms with six-hourly rainfall totals in excess of 180mm.”

“Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tenterfield and Dorrigo.”

The evacuation warnings sent out this morning come only a few weeks after the devastating floods in NSW and south-east Queensland that killed 22 people and destroyed numerous homes.

“We have seen flash flooding and fatalities occur [during the recent floods] with only moderate falls,” BOM meteorologist Jackson Browne said, per news.com.au.

“And with heavy-to-intense falls, this risk is very significant for flash flooding.”

The thought of yet another flood has been terrifying for residents of northern NSW who are still trying to recover from the ones four weeks ago.

“People are pretty nervous to be honest with you,” Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg told Sunrise on Monday morning.

“Four weeks of cleaning up after the record flood that we‘ve just experienced and then to get the news of the weather event that’s coming for us.

“We don‘t need to go through this again”.

“We need you to heed the warning, get prepared, don’t drive through floodwater … be wary that landslips are likely, be wary that the culverts may be flooded.

“If we tell you to evacuate, evacuate. Everything is wet and it is going to be a very wet week ahead.”

Richmond Police recommended that those who can should arrange to stay somewhere else.

“That could be with family or friends … if you have any items you have taken back into your business or your home that may be susceptible to any sort of flood level … [you might need] to make arrangements to move them to higher ground.”

Here’s the full list of NSW regions at risk of flooding:

  • Tweed and Rouse Rivers – moderate to major flooding
  • Brunswick River and Marshalls Creek – minor flooding
  • Wilsons River – major flooding
  • Richmond River – moderate to major flooding
  • Clarence River – minor flooding
  • Orara River – moderate to major flooding
  • Coffs Coast – localised flooding
  • Bellinger and Kalang Rivers – minor to major flooding
  • Nambucca River – minor flooding
  • Hastings River – minor flooding
  • Camden Haven River – minor flooding
  • Manning and Gloucester Rivers – minor flooding
  • Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter River – minor flooding

Here’s the full list of areas in NSW where residents have been told to evacuate:

  • Tumbulgum
  • Billinudgel
  • North and South Lismore
  • Mullumbimby
  • Kyogle

Remember to keep an eye on warnings, follow evacuation orders and stay safe friends.

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