Gumleaf
April 20th, 2015, 06:45 PM
School bus washed off road in NSW Hunter as wild weather lashes coast
http://www.9news.com.au/National/2015/04/21/05/54/NSW-coast-lashed-by-wild-storms
The State Emergency Service (SES) is responding to reports a school bus has been washed off the road at Martins Creek in the New South Wales (NSW) Hunter region, as some of the wildest weather in years lashes the NSW coast, with gale force winds causing widespread damage and commuter chaos.
It is reportedly leaning against trees on Martins Creek Road, and possibly isolated by floodwaters. It is unknown how many people are inside.
A woman is fighting for her life after an elderly couple were rescued from flood waters at Stroud in the same region.
SES deputy commissioner Steven Pearce said the couple had been located after being missing for several hours this morning.
"They have been rescued and taken to hospital," he said.
"My information is that the lady is in critical condition."
The Transport Management Centre is warning people in Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter regions not to leave home unless it is absolutely necessary.
Those on the roads should beware of downed power lines and avoid storm debris.
For assistance contact the SES on 132 500. Calls should only be made if there is any injury, the road is blocked or a house or car has been damaged. The SES will prioritise jobs and assist when possible.
LATEST UPDATES
• Authorities have advised against all non-essential travel in affected areas
• The SES has received unconfirmed reports of people missing in floodwaters but have not released further details
• A school bus has been washed off Martins Creek Road at Martins Creek. It is unknown how many people are inside.
• The SES has carried out more than 20 flood rescues and received over 2900 calls
• A passenger cruise ship has been forced to halt outside Sydney heads as the harbour is closed
• Four have been rescued from a rooftop at Stroud football oval
• 150mm of rain has fallen in the worst affected areas
• Wind gusts of up to 125km/h have been recorded in the Hunter region
• Power is out across more than 180,000 homes
• Check out the latest traffic alerts here
April 21, 2015: Heavy rain and strong winds have hit Sydney bringing down trees and causing power outages in some areas.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Pearce says the conditions are "cyclonic".
"This is an enormous event that's been unfolding," he said.
"We haven't seen gale-force winds this consistent for years - gusting over 100km/h."
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has so far responded to more than 2500 calls for help, with the majority of requests coming from the greater Sydney region.
“We’re not expecting conditions to ease until Wednesday,” SES spokeswoman Stephanie Wills said.
“These jobs are a reminder to never drive, ride or walk through floodwater,” she said.
Power has been restored to around 2,700 homes in the northern Sydney suburbs Freshwater and Curl Curl, however there are still 180,000 homes and businesses in the dark across Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter region.
That number has risen steadily from 100,000 earlier this morning.
"180,000 homes & businesses now without power across Sydney, Central Coast & Hunter with crews fixing fallen powerlines at multiple locations," Ausgrid tweeted.
The wild weather saw at least one person rescued from flood waters at Parramatta, in Sydney’s west, while others have been pulled out of stranded cars in other parts of the state.
The Illawarra region also sustained a battering with many roads closed due to flooding.
Conditions are not expected to ease until tomorrow, with severe weather warnings in place for NSW coastal regions from the Manning Valley to the Central Coast.
Send your storm photos and videos to [email protected] - but remember to stay safe.
© ninemsn 2015
http://www.9news.com.au/National/2015/04/21/05/54/NSW-coast-lashed-by-wild-storms
The State Emergency Service (SES) is responding to reports a school bus has been washed off the road at Martins Creek in the New South Wales (NSW) Hunter region, as some of the wildest weather in years lashes the NSW coast, with gale force winds causing widespread damage and commuter chaos.
It is reportedly leaning against trees on Martins Creek Road, and possibly isolated by floodwaters. It is unknown how many people are inside.
A woman is fighting for her life after an elderly couple were rescued from flood waters at Stroud in the same region.
SES deputy commissioner Steven Pearce said the couple had been located after being missing for several hours this morning.
"They have been rescued and taken to hospital," he said.
"My information is that the lady is in critical condition."
The Transport Management Centre is warning people in Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter regions not to leave home unless it is absolutely necessary.
Those on the roads should beware of downed power lines and avoid storm debris.
For assistance contact the SES on 132 500. Calls should only be made if there is any injury, the road is blocked or a house or car has been damaged. The SES will prioritise jobs and assist when possible.
LATEST UPDATES
• Authorities have advised against all non-essential travel in affected areas
• The SES has received unconfirmed reports of people missing in floodwaters but have not released further details
• A school bus has been washed off Martins Creek Road at Martins Creek. It is unknown how many people are inside.
• The SES has carried out more than 20 flood rescues and received over 2900 calls
• A passenger cruise ship has been forced to halt outside Sydney heads as the harbour is closed
• Four have been rescued from a rooftop at Stroud football oval
• 150mm of rain has fallen in the worst affected areas
• Wind gusts of up to 125km/h have been recorded in the Hunter region
• Power is out across more than 180,000 homes
• Check out the latest traffic alerts here
April 21, 2015: Heavy rain and strong winds have hit Sydney bringing down trees and causing power outages in some areas.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Pearce says the conditions are "cyclonic".
"This is an enormous event that's been unfolding," he said.
"We haven't seen gale-force winds this consistent for years - gusting over 100km/h."
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has so far responded to more than 2500 calls for help, with the majority of requests coming from the greater Sydney region.
“We’re not expecting conditions to ease until Wednesday,” SES spokeswoman Stephanie Wills said.
“These jobs are a reminder to never drive, ride or walk through floodwater,” she said.
Power has been restored to around 2,700 homes in the northern Sydney suburbs Freshwater and Curl Curl, however there are still 180,000 homes and businesses in the dark across Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter region.
That number has risen steadily from 100,000 earlier this morning.
"180,000 homes & businesses now without power across Sydney, Central Coast & Hunter with crews fixing fallen powerlines at multiple locations," Ausgrid tweeted.
The wild weather saw at least one person rescued from flood waters at Parramatta, in Sydney’s west, while others have been pulled out of stranded cars in other parts of the state.
The Illawarra region also sustained a battering with many roads closed due to flooding.
Conditions are not expected to ease until tomorrow, with severe weather warnings in place for NSW coastal regions from the Manning Valley to the Central Coast.
Send your storm photos and videos to [email protected] - but remember to stay safe.
© ninemsn 2015