Update from NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Debbie Platz on continuing flood response

ABC NEWS (Australia)

New South Wales SES Deputy Commissioner provides an update on response efforts to flooding in the north of the state.

Transcript

00:00So it has been quite a remarkable weekend and extremely busy for our volunteers and

00:08they are absolutely amazing. So over 1,500 SES volunteers have been active over the weekend

00:14and they were joined by our emergency services partners. All up our volunteers have attended

00:20over 2,200 incidences and most of those relate to storm damage. So we saw some very severe

00:26storms, particularly around the South West Rocks area on Saturday afternoon. That caused

00:32a lot of damage, roofs off properties, trees down, power lines down and so a lot of work

00:38has been done to clean up and most of the incidences did occur in our mid north coast

00:43Hunter area. Of course we did have the snow where our volunteers helped over 100 cars

00:50and probably over 200 people escaped from being bogged in the snow and then now what

00:57we are experiencing is major flooding in some areas. So as you mentioned we do have emergency

01:03warnings out for people to evacuate. The major area of concern for us is in fact Gunnedah.

01:09The river currently is at 8.4 metres. We do expect that that river will peak later this evening

01:17and then it will stay at a high level so a major flood level until probably Wednesday this week.

01:24So the area that we are asking to evacuate does include around 230 properties so quite an extensive area

01:31and if people do need somewhere to stay we do have an evacuation centre open at the Gunnedah PCYC.

01:37The other watch point for us is the Hunter River and this is the area around Raymond Terrace

01:42which also has an evacuation warning in place there. But we are monitoring 11 different river systems

01:49and all of them anything from a minor to a major flooding. So we do need people to stay really alert.

01:55So concentrating on your Hazards Near Me app, where you live, where you work and where you're travelling to

02:02and also the SES website and we will provide you with the most up-to-date information that we can

02:07so that we can keep you and your family and friends safe.

02:10Debbie, just circling back to Gunnedah, you're saying that the PCYC is available there for evacuations.

02:16What about the other areas that you've mentioned there being Raymond Terrace?

02:20Where can people go if they're in one of the areas that is needing to evacuate?

02:24So if we are able to set up evacuation centres, people can see them on our NSW SES website.

02:33The areas in Raymond Terrace, they're quite a small area, probably only impacting about 30 homes.

02:39So there's no evacuation centre at the moment set up there.

02:42But if one is required, then of course we will organise for that to be set up.

02:46OK, so your message to those people in these affected areas where the SES focus will be today,

02:51particularly Gunnedah and Raymond Terrace?

02:54Yes, but there is also many warnings out. So we have 58 warnings out right across NSW.

03:02And some of those are for people to prepare to isolate or to monitor conditions.

03:07So areas such as Maitland and Singleton, just to name a few, are on our watch list.

03:13So it's really encouraging people to stay alert and monitor their local area.

03:19What are you expecting with respect to the weather?

03:21What's the bomb telling you about when the rains might subside?

03:26Because we know that they've subsided, which they have in many areas so far.

03:30It's the flooding that remains.

03:33That's right. So we did see significant rainfall over the weekend.

03:39In fact, one area had over 260 millimetres up near Barrington Tops.

03:43That's a significant amount of rain.

03:45It is easing, although we are still seeing some light showers, particularly along the coastal fringe.

03:51The Bureau has indicated to us that we will continue to see an easing as that system moves off to the east.

03:59But there is a chance on Thursday of another small system causing some showers along the east coast fringe in particular.

04:08But we don't expect that to have a significant impact.

04:11But as you mentioned, the rainfall that we've had is entering into our systems and also our dams are very full.

04:17So in some areas, dams are releasing water.

04:20And that, of course, adds to the impact, which we keep a very close eye on.

04:24We're working with dams and Water NSW all the time to make sure that that's factored into our warnings.

04:30So we do expect the major flooding at Gunnedah, as an example, that that will start to just subside around Wednesday of this week.

04:40OK. And what do you know about how the SES is being involved in any of the power outages?

04:44So this morning we had advice that there are still probably around 20,000 properties that are without power.

04:55And that is obviously for electricity providers to get that power back on.

05:01But we do encourage people to call us if there is any issue so they see power lines down.

05:06In particular, asking people, please stay away from power lines.

05:10They are obviously extremely dangerous.

05:13So please contact your local providers if you do see any power lines down.

05:18And just finally...

05:19Of course our number, 132 500.

05:21Yes. And it's right there behind you, 132 500.

05:24And obviously the website, ses.nsw.gov.au.

05:27Just concluding with the police search, which I know the SES was also assisting in after that woman went missing in floodwater.

05:35on Saturday night.

05:37Do you have an update on that?

05:39So this morning our in-water flood rescue operators, who are very highly trained from the SES,

05:48have attended with other emergency services.

05:51And helping the NSW Police to search for that missing woman at this stage, she has not been located.

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