00:00They were expecting rain in Taree, just not this much.
00:07One of the crewmen rolled over to see what the problem was, stepped out of bed and he was almost knee deep in water.
00:12The water was even higher in parts of the Hunter's Dungog Shire, where an already soaked landscape copped a drenching beyond its capacity.
00:21It's probably been raining here for four or six weeks, and the ground is absolutely waterlogged.
00:28And this rain event over the last few days, the water hasn't had anywhere to go.
00:33That's resulted in a major flood warning for the Williams River.
00:37I think there was a lot of apprehension in Dungog, with obviously the rain falling.
00:42When the river started rising, people started to, to use the term, freak a little bit more.
00:47Some in Dungog have already evacuated, while residents further north are getting ready to go.
00:53A little bit nervous, like being a dad and all.
00:55I do want to protect my family and make sure I'm making the right decisions.
00:58Declan Batchelor woke up to a torrent gushing through his backyard.
01:02We've got emergency packs.
01:04If the same thing that's this morning happens again, and it's continuously raining, we'll just leave.
01:08It's hard to believe, but this road here in Warhope is actually a bridge.
01:13It's been completely engulfed by flood water and debris flowing along the Hastings River.
01:19It's one of dozens of roads across the region that will be closed for some time to come.
01:24There have been more than 40 flood rescues in the past 24 hours.
01:29Now, many of those rescues, unfortunately, are a result of people going through flood waters.
01:34We're just desperately, desperately seeking the public follow the advice that they do not drive through flood waters.
01:41The Gloucester and Paterson Rivers are also subject to major flood warnings.
01:46And with more rainfall set to enter catchments, the number of alerts and evacuations are expected to increase.
01:53That was the first night of another three or four nights we were getting through.
01:58A tough road ahead for much of the state.
Comments