Thursday 11am update:
A MAJOR flood has peaked in Moree early on Thursday morning, causing floodwater to seep into town and further submerge roads and low-lying areas.
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The Mehi River at Moree peaked at 10.38m about 6am on Thursday, causing the town's biggest flood since a devastating event in 2012.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warning on Thursday morning said heavy rainfall in the Gwydir River catchment earlier in the week had caused the major flood.
Yarraman is also experiencing a major flood, moderate flooding is occurring at Pallamallawa and a minor flood is still current in Gravesend.
In life threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero) immediately.
If you require rescue, assistance to evacuate or other emergency help, ring NSW State Emergency Services (SES) on 132 500.
- Avoid drowning - stay out of rising water, seek refuge in the highest available place
- Prevent damage to your vehicle - move it under cover, away from areas likely to flood
- Avoid being swept away - stay out of fast-flowing creeks and storm drains
- Never drive, ride or walk through flood water, flood water can be deceptive and dangerous
For more emergency information, advice and access to the latest river heights and rainfall observations and forecasts visit the NSW SES site at www.ses.nsw.gov.au or the BoM warning site at http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/flood/gwydirriver.shtml.
As major flooding continues, an earlier evacuation order for low-lying parts of Moree is still in place.
Wednesday 3pm update:
A MAJOR flood warning and evacuation order are both still in place for Moree.
The latest update from the State Emergency Service (SES) indicated the Mehi River level at Moree is 9.5m and rising.
The SES warned river levels at Moree may peak near 10.4m on Wednesday night and into Thursday and will cause major flooding.
Low-lying areas of the town have been ordered to evacuate to higher ground and stay with friends and family, or attend an evacuation centre at the Moree PCYC.
The SES said the flood crisis in Moree will bring the highest river levels since the devastating flood event of February 2012.
Other locations in the Gwydir and Mehi catchment like Bundarra, Bingara, Rider, Gravesend, Pallamallawa and Yarraman either have falling river levels or steady river levels, according to the SES.
Updates can be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/flood/gwydirriver.shtml.
Extra support crews from Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service have been deployed to Moree to help manage the crisis.
Wednesday 9am update:
MAJOR FLOODING is expected to continue in Moree later today, and residents in low-lying areas have been ordered to evacuate their homes.
State Emergency Service (SES) spokesman David Rankine confirmed the Mehi River in Moree was 9.5m and rising on Wednesday morning.
It is expected to peak at about 10.4m at 9pm on Wednesday.
All properties north of Heber Street and west of Boundary Street need to leave by 10am today.
The SES warned once floodwater begins to inundate Moree, road access, water, sewerage, power, phones and internet may be lost.
Anyone who lives north of Iris Street, south of Dobbie Street, west of Edward Street, east of Frome Street, Warialda Street, Gosport Street, Morton Street and McElhone Street was ordered to leave by 9pm on Tuesday.
Anyone who remains in that area could be trapped and it could be too dangerous for the SES to perform a rescue.
Residents must move to higher ground and wherever possible, people should stay with family or friends, or make other arrangements.
If unable to do so, an evacuation centre has been set up at Moree PCYC on Boston Street.
People in low-lying properties should list possessions and important items above the predicted flood height and take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables.
The SES has warned those residents to leave as early as possible to avoid restricted roads and share the warning with others.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the SES on 132 500. In life-threatening situations call Triple zero (000) immediately.
Water levels in the Gwydir River at Bundarra reached moderate flood levels early on Wednesday morning and water is now subsiding.
The Gwydir River at Pallamallawa is at 10.43m, the water is expected to peak near 10.5m during Wednesday morning before falling below the major flood level late Wednesday morning.
The river level at Yarraman Bridge is expected to remain around its current level as the river records its peak on Wednesday morning, and then subside.
Highways leading to the Moree area remained closed on Wednesday morning.
Updates can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Moree Woolworths announced it would be closed today.
Tuesday 9pm update:
'EVACUATE now' is the message to those in low-lying properties at Moree from State Emergency Services.
The Mehi River at Moree is expected to peak at 10.4 metres at 9pm on Wednesday.
Anyone who lives north of Iris Street, south of Dobbie Street, west of Edward Street, east of Frome Street, Warialda Street, Gosport Street, Morton Street, McElhone Street need to leave by 9pm tonight.
All properties north of Heber Street and west of Boundary Street need to leave by 10am Wednesday.
Once flood water begins to inundate the area, road access, water, sewerage, power, phones and internet may be lost.
Anyone who remains in that area will be trapped and it could be too dangerous for the SES to perform a rescue.
Residents must move to higher ground and wherever possible, people should stay with family or friends, or make other arrangements.
If unable to do so, an evacuation centre has been set up at Moree PCYC on Boston Street.
People in low-lying properties should list possessions and important items above the predicted flood height and take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables.
The SES has warned those residents to leave as early as possible to avoid restricted roads and share the warning with others.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the SES on 132 500. In life-threatening situations call Triple zero (000) immediately.
Schools closed:
Several schools have been closed in and around the New England North West as flooding takes hold.
On Tuesday night, the NSW Department of Education advised these schools were non-operational due to flooding:
Ashford Central School; Croppa Creek Public School; Drake Public School; Jennings Public School; Mallawa Public School; Moree Secondary College Albert Street Campus; Moree Secondary College Carol Avenue Campus; Rowena Public School; Tabulam Public School; Tingha Public School; Toomelah Public School.
For more information, visit https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/school-safety
Update Tuesday evening:
AN URGENT evacuation warning has been issued for parts of Moree, with a major flood expected to hit the town overnight.
The State Emergency Service (SES) has advised all residents in low-lying areas to evacuate their homes and properties as water levels rise.
The only area with an evacuation warning in place on Tuesday afternoon was all residents north of Iris Street, Moree.
An evacuation order has not yet been issued, and residents will be advised immediately by the SES if and when that happens.
The SES warning said people north of Iris Street need to closely monitor the weather and road situations and "make informed decisions" based on their circumstances.
"Storm and flood impacts may interrupt essential services such as electricity, phones, internet, water and sewerage," the warning said.
"Residents should monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate when instructed to do so."
The SES said when floodwater begins inundating the area, road access may be cut and people in the affected areas may become trapped.
If locals need to evacuate, the SES has asked people to stay with friends and family where possible, but an evacuation centre could be opened if required.
Simple things you can do now, according to the SES warning:
- Lift possessions and important items above the predicted flood height
- Take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with you
- Leave as early as possible to avoid restricted roads
- Share this information with family, friends and neighbours and help others where possible
For emergency help call the SES on 132500 and in a life-threatening emergency call Triple Zero.
Update Tuesday afternoon:
A MAJOR flood warning has been issued for Moree after intense rainfall in the Gwydir catchment caused waterways to surge.
The State Emergency Service (SES) has warned locals to be prepared for a major flood event in the Moree, Yetman and Gravesend areas overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday.
The floods are expected to rise to the "major" level in those three locations early on Wednesday morning.
Moderate flooding is expected at Pallamallawa, but the Gwydir River at Bundarra is expected to remain below the minor flood level.
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The SES flood bulletin on Tuesday afternoon said further heavy rainfall has been predicted to hit the area in the next 12 hours, and could cause rivers to rise even further.
The SES is closely monitoring the situation as it evolves, and will provide another update at 4:30pm this afternoon.
Intense rain in the catchment has caused the water levels of Horton River, Gwydir River and local tributaries around Moree to increase drastically.
Major flooding is also likely along the Mehi River at Moree, which had risen to more than 5.37m on Tuesday afternoon and is still on the up and up.
The SES has predicted that by Wednesday evening, river levels in Moree could surge to more than 10m.
The urgent flood bulletin said:
- Overland flooding will occur between the Gwydir and Mehi rivers
- Overland flooding will occur in the Biniguy area.
- Roads from the Gwydir Highway to Pallamallawa are likely to close.
- Gwydir Highway east of Moree may close at Mia Mia Creek
- Gwydir River at Pallamallawa is expected to exceed the minor flood level of 6m on Tuesday afternoon
- River levels at Pallamallawa are likely to reach 9.5 metres on Wednesday morning with moderate flooding
- Water is likely to encroach on the Gwydir Highway east of Moree and the road close.
- Road access between Pallamallawa and Moree is likely to be cut
- Road access between Pallamallawa and Warialda is likely to be cut
- Pallamallawa is likely to be isolated
- The Gwydir River at Yarraman Bridge is currently at 2.14m and rising
- The Gwydir River at Yarraman Bridge is likely to exceed the minor flood level of 4m on Tuesday night into Wednesday
- River levels at Yarraman Bridge are likely to reach 7.1 metres on Wednesday morning with major flooding
- Overland flooding will occur in the Gingham and Big Leather Watercourses to the west of Gwydir Raft
- Properties in this area may become isolated
- The low level, single lane concrete bridge at Brajeen Crossing will close
- Slaughterhouse Creek, is full and flowing into Gwydir River system
- Local reports have reported White Swamp is full and flowing with upstream flows faster than previous floods
- Mosquito Creek is flowing with reports gullies and creeks all flowing in unmetered streams
- Halls Creek has overtopped the railway
What residents in at-risk areas need to do, according to the SES:
- Farmers and landholders are advised to relocate livestock, pumps and machinery to higher ground
- Residents on propertieslikely to be isolated due to road closuresshould stock up on essential items including food, medications and domestic animal supplies
- NSW SES urges motorists to take extreme care as there is water flowing across causeways and some local roads
- Motorists are advised not to drive through floodwater as floodwaters may be deep and fast-flowing and contain hidden snags and debris
- People working or camping along the Gwydir and Mehi Rivers should continue to monitor river heights
For emergency help call the SES on 132500 and in a life-threatening emergency call Triple Zero.
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Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
