Drivers are urged to not traverse flood-affected roads as the state's SES works to help rural and isolated communities grappling with heavy rain.
Fresh warnings have surfaced for drivers to remain off flood-affected roads in the New South Wales (NSW) mid-north coast and Hunter regions after record-breaking rainfall this week.
In the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Service (SES), there have been 1023 reported incidents and 339 flood rescues – the latter making up the majority of the 501 rescue operations since the beginning of this heavy rainfall incident.
Flash floods are expected in Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Woolgoolga, Sawtell, Dorrigo, and Nambucca today, with up to a 300mm downpour expected.
While it might be tempting to traverse affected roads, drivers are urged to avoid driving through flooded areas as it can be hard to determine how deep the water is, what debris may be laying at the bottom, and whether a safe road surface remains.
This could lead to damage of a vehicle – even if it is equipped to handle high-depth water wading – or water entering the intake that would render the vehicle inoperable.
The SES states that “an estimated 50,000 people” should “prepare for isolations” with the incoming rainfall or evacuate early.
With the levee at the Macleay River broken and the Kempsey CBD flooded, emergency services have prepared temporary accommodation at evacuation centres and hotels nearby.
If drivers travel through flood-affected roads and become stuck, it adds to the SES’ limited capacity for rescue efforts.
NSW SES State Deputy Commander, Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said the organisation is working around the clock to reach people in need.
“We’ve seen continual rainfall and very fast flowing rivers, which when combined with flooded roads have made it very difficult to access some isolated people,” Malone said.
“Our crews have been working through the night to complete flood rescues, but our message to people still awaiting rescue is to remain in safe locations, away from flood waters in dry locations is possible.
“While dozens of rescues have been completed overnight, they continue to be received, and the NSW SES and our partner agencies have helicopter resources, boats and high clearance vehicles responding when it is safe to do so.”
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
