Days after a significant drenching that hit most of the region, the Bureau of Meteorology is again predicting widespread rainfall and warning of minor flooding for the Peel and Namoi rivers.
The Bureau of Meteorology advises a broad trough is expected to bring widespread rainfall across NSW, with severe thunderstorms and locally heavy falls for the next few days.
This rainfall may cause flooding along rivers in parts of the New England catchments of the Peel and Namoi Rivers, which may affect residents in Tamworth, Carroll, and Gunnedah. The NSW SES are preparing for widespread flooding across the state and pre-positioning assets in readiness.
What you need to do if you’re in a flood warning area:
- If you have a Home and/or Business Emergency Plan, review it now. Otherwise, have a conversation and plan for what you will do and take with you if you need to evacuate. Consider the consequences of road and bridge closures and water over roads and make alternate arrangements for work, children, and travel.
- Obey all signs about road closures and instructions from emergency services. Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in flood water – it is dangerous, toxic, and may void your car insurance. If it’s flooded, forget it. Fines may apply.
- Avoid storm drains and pipes, ditches, ravines, creeks, and rivers.
- People in areas likely to be impacted by flooding should raise their assets, including waste and chemical containers above expected flood heights.
- Share this information with family, friends, and neighbours and help others prepare where possible.
- If you are likely to be isolated due to flooding, stock up on essential items now. Farmers should consider moving pumps and farm equipment to higher ground. Companion animals and livestock should be relocated to higher ground that will not become an island.
For more information:
- Listen to your local radio station. ABC New England North West – 100.7FM – is best as other local stations may go to networked programming for much of the day.
- Follow @NSWSES on social media or visit their website at www.ses.nsw.gov.au
- Learn about your risk at www.ses.nsw.gov.au/knowyourrisk/
- Check latest weather, warnings, rainfall and river heights at www.bom.gov.au/nsw/
- Check road closures at livetraffic.com.au or 132 701 or your local Council.
- Contact your Local Land Services Office for rural animal and livestock assistance at lls.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 795 299
For emergency help in floods, storms and tsunamis, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500. In life threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.