Gumleaf
May 23rd, 2009, 01:27 AM
16:02 AEST Sat May 23 2009
A man has died in the NSW floods and more than 21,000 people are isolated, with the town of Kempsey under water and more areas declared disaster zones.
State Emergency Service (SES) crews are expecting floodwaters of up to two metres to inundate the centre of the mid-north coast town after 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate and the Macleay River peaked about midday on Saturday.
Water began spilling over the Kempsey levees about 5.35am (AEST) and heavy rain refused to let up throughout the day.
"The main levee has overtopped and water is now getting in there, well and truly," a SES spokesman told AAP.
The far north coast town of Yamba was on high alert as residents prepared for flooding on Saturday night.
The SES has received more than 2,000 calls for assistance and the NSW government disaster declaration has been extended to areas on the mid-north coast, which have been buffeted by the same storms that wreaked havoc from Queensland to Coffs Harbour.
Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca and the Port Macquarie-Hastings areas had been declared disaster zones after declarations for The Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley on Friday.
The flooding in northern NSW has prompted the evacuation of thousands of people and claimed the life of a 70-year-old man, whose body was found near his submerged car.
Officers were alerted to the submerged vehicle in floodwaters on South Arm Road at Raleigh, south of Coffs Harbour, about 5.15pm (AEST) on Friday, police said.
Several attempts were made to reach the silver-coloured Toyota Hilux before officers gained access shortly after midnight.
Police found the body of a 70-year-old local man nearby.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd joined NSW Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan in passing on his condolences to the man's family.
He said the federal government would activate "all the necessary counter disaster arrangements" in response to state government requests.
Mr Rudd said the relevant federal ministers were closely monitoring the flooding situation but he would wait to visit the flood-affected areas.
"As appropriate I'll visit these areas myself but we'll keep in contact with the local authorities," Mr Rudd told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
"The last thing you want is, frankly, politicians getting in the road when action is being taken on the ground."
Mr Whan pleaded with flood-affected residents to follow the precise instructions of emergency services workers.
"Exercise extreme caution when evacuating flood-affected areas, and never drive, ride, walk through or play in floodwaters."
A SES spokesman said a very high tide prediction and a peak river level at the mouth of the Clarence River would unfortunately coincide about 7pm on Saturday.
"The modelling shows there will be flooding in Yamba," the spokesman said.
He said many locals were extremely resilient and would stay with friends or relatives if their homes were flooded.
Evacuated Grafton residents may have been granted a reprieve after peak river levels did not result in forecast flooding.
Engineers are inspecting the structural integrity of the levee, bridges, power, sewerage and other infrastructure before giving the all clear for residents to return to their homes.
Mr Whan said evacuation orders had been issued for the Kempsey CBD, Smithtown, Gladstone, Kinchela and Jerseyville.
The SES estimates 21,500 people have been isolated, including 16,000 in Grafton where about 2,000 people have been evacuated with expectations the town could be cut off for more than two days.
"The towns of Hat Head and South West Rocks are isolated, along with Maclean, Yamba, Iluka, Bellingen, Darkwood and the Kalang Valley."
SES spokesman Greg Slater said Kempsey and its surrounds could expect "extensive flooding".
Flooded sections of the Pacific Highway have turned the thoroughfare into a tourist attraction and frustrated motorists.
Parts of the road from Ballina to Coffs Harbour are swamped by up to two metres of water, forcing major detours.
All beaches between Sydney and the Queensland coast have been closed as the storms continue to whip up huge seas.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast swells of six metres along the NSW coastline.
© AAP 2009
A man has died in the NSW floods and more than 21,000 people are isolated, with the town of Kempsey under water and more areas declared disaster zones.
State Emergency Service (SES) crews are expecting floodwaters of up to two metres to inundate the centre of the mid-north coast town after 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate and the Macleay River peaked about midday on Saturday.
Water began spilling over the Kempsey levees about 5.35am (AEST) and heavy rain refused to let up throughout the day.
"The main levee has overtopped and water is now getting in there, well and truly," a SES spokesman told AAP.
The far north coast town of Yamba was on high alert as residents prepared for flooding on Saturday night.
The SES has received more than 2,000 calls for assistance and the NSW government disaster declaration has been extended to areas on the mid-north coast, which have been buffeted by the same storms that wreaked havoc from Queensland to Coffs Harbour.
Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca and the Port Macquarie-Hastings areas had been declared disaster zones after declarations for The Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley on Friday.
The flooding in northern NSW has prompted the evacuation of thousands of people and claimed the life of a 70-year-old man, whose body was found near his submerged car.
Officers were alerted to the submerged vehicle in floodwaters on South Arm Road at Raleigh, south of Coffs Harbour, about 5.15pm (AEST) on Friday, police said.
Several attempts were made to reach the silver-coloured Toyota Hilux before officers gained access shortly after midnight.
Police found the body of a 70-year-old local man nearby.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd joined NSW Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan in passing on his condolences to the man's family.
He said the federal government would activate "all the necessary counter disaster arrangements" in response to state government requests.
Mr Rudd said the relevant federal ministers were closely monitoring the flooding situation but he would wait to visit the flood-affected areas.
"As appropriate I'll visit these areas myself but we'll keep in contact with the local authorities," Mr Rudd told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
"The last thing you want is, frankly, politicians getting in the road when action is being taken on the ground."
Mr Whan pleaded with flood-affected residents to follow the precise instructions of emergency services workers.
"Exercise extreme caution when evacuating flood-affected areas, and never drive, ride, walk through or play in floodwaters."
A SES spokesman said a very high tide prediction and a peak river level at the mouth of the Clarence River would unfortunately coincide about 7pm on Saturday.
"The modelling shows there will be flooding in Yamba," the spokesman said.
He said many locals were extremely resilient and would stay with friends or relatives if their homes were flooded.
Evacuated Grafton residents may have been granted a reprieve after peak river levels did not result in forecast flooding.
Engineers are inspecting the structural integrity of the levee, bridges, power, sewerage and other infrastructure before giving the all clear for residents to return to their homes.
Mr Whan said evacuation orders had been issued for the Kempsey CBD, Smithtown, Gladstone, Kinchela and Jerseyville.
The SES estimates 21,500 people have been isolated, including 16,000 in Grafton where about 2,000 people have been evacuated with expectations the town could be cut off for more than two days.
"The towns of Hat Head and South West Rocks are isolated, along with Maclean, Yamba, Iluka, Bellingen, Darkwood and the Kalang Valley."
SES spokesman Greg Slater said Kempsey and its surrounds could expect "extensive flooding".
Flooded sections of the Pacific Highway have turned the thoroughfare into a tourist attraction and frustrated motorists.
Parts of the road from Ballina to Coffs Harbour are swamped by up to two metres of water, forcing major detours.
All beaches between Sydney and the Queensland coast have been closed as the storms continue to whip up huge seas.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast swells of six metres along the NSW coastline.
© AAP 2009