Updated Thursday, March 3, 2022, 4pm.
Sydney and surrounds on Thursday
The weather system that brought floods to Brisbane and the NSW Northern Rivers reached Sydney and surrounds shortly afterwards and flooding started on Wednesday.
The Cook , Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers are in flood at various points. Watch and evacuate orders are in place for areas of Sydney such as Riverstone, Windsor and Richmond. There are 173 current notifications across NSW now.
The SES advises that Sydneysiders now also need to have a flood plan. This includes:
- Know how to receive weather warnings and when to act
- Understand where to go
- Prepare a get ready to go kit
- Learn more about your flood risk, based on your suburb.
For more details, go to:
If you have lost internet access or are not computer savvy, ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) local radio stations are now interrupting regular broadcasting with flood updates for all local areas. In Sydney this is Radio station 702 AM.
To follow this advice on the internet, go to:
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/
For more information, go to:
https://www.abc.net.au/emergency/
By Wednesday there had been fourteen deaths, some of these people trapped in their homes as the flood waters rose rapidly, others lost as raging torrents swept them away from roads and other outdoor locations. Australian treasurer, Josh Frydenberg told the ABC today that the cost of the cleanup will “run into the billions.”
Lismore and the North on Monday
The NSW town of Lismore is in a state of shock as flood waters this morning became the worst on record. The towns levees were breached in the early morning and a flood peak of 14 metres is expected this evening as the current weather system continues to deliver ‘rivers in the sky’.
People have clung to roof tops, and telegraph poles as they wait to be rescued. They have watched as their family dogs are swept away and been powerless to help others they can hear calling for help. They have lost track of relatives.
This weather system is also hitting South-east Queensland, experiencing the same conditions a day or two ahead. Seven deaths had been recorded in Queensland by this morning (Monday, 28 February.) And one man in NSW is missing.
As at 11am, Monday 28, 2022, evacuation orders are in place for Lismore, Mullumbimby, Coraki, Billinudgel, Ocean Shores, New Brighton, Brunswick Heads, South Gold Beach, South Murwillumbah, Condong, Kyogle, Wiangaree, Tumbulgum.
Good Grief! is based in NSW. But we recognised that flooding and extreme weather events are happening all around the world.
Storm Eunice claimed four lives as it swept across Britain four days ago and in the USA storms, floods and tornados swept through the South in early January, bringing a scale of destruction worse than ever seen before to parts of Kentucky and Georgia.
All of this against the backdrop of war in Europe which adds to our anxiety.
Here are some sites that could help you today.
For emergency help in flood, storm and tsunami, ring the SES on : 132 500.
For SES updates on what is happening in your local area – including further south of
To get flood updates from ABC Radio, Australia’s national broadcaster, go to:
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/weather/warnings/
For help receiving the ABC radio and TV coverage in your area, go to:
Here we republish the NRMA’s warning about attempting to drive through floodwater – even if it doesn’t look threatening.
(The article explains that modern cars, with all their electrical componentry seize up when flooded. So there is less capacity to manoeuvre).
Are you overwhelmed by events around you?
Ring Lifeline on: 13 11 14 for 24/7 support
And for later, when the crisis is over, go to:
Make sure you keep in contact with those who can offer support, once the immediate threat has passed. For example, OzGreen in Bellingen.
They say on their website: “Many people are feeling isolated, vulnerable and fatigued following a series of recent disasters. Resilient Communities is a program that empowers and connects us to walk toward a more positive future together.”
Do you know another community initiative working in a similar way in our own community? Get in touch so we can share the info about them too.