ID :
61712
Thu, 05/21/2009 - 18:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/61712
The shortlink copeid
Qld storms hit NSW, flooding expected
The NSW north coast is copping a battering from a storm which lashed southern
Queensland - with properties isolated, widespread blackouts and emergency services
forced to conduct flood rescues.
Heavy rain has closed 200 schools and left thousands of houses without power in
northern NSW, as the wild weather drifted south of the Queensland border.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a severe weather warning for the NSW
northern rivers, northern tablelands and mid-north coast.
There are flood warnings in place for the Tweed, Wilsons, Bellinger, Hastings, Orara
and Brunswick Rivers.
About 190mm of rain had fallen over the Tweed River area alone in the 30 hours to
3pm (AEST) Thursday.
Winds of 130km/h were recorded at Byron Bay on Thursday morning, with gusts of
125km/h possible in the next 24 to 48 hours, the bureau said.
"Very heavy rain, high winds and large waves will remain over northeast NSW for the
next 24 to 48 hours before the system weakens and moves away during Saturday," the
BoM said.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) said it had received 714 calls for assistance
across the region, with the majority, almost 500, coming from the Richmond/Tweed
area.
Emergency services made two rescues in northern NSW after motorists had driven into
floodwater, an SES spokeswoman said.
"We're asking residents that they be prepared for the event (flooding)," she told AAP.
"Preparation - including securing loose items so they don't become potential
missiles, also do some sandbagging around the house.
"Ensuring that they avoid any travel that is not necessary. Just stay off the roads
and never enter floodwaters."
About 381 properties in the Fingal Head area near Tweed Heads, and 500 residents of
Darkwood on the Bellinger River, are expected to be isolated by flood waters.
"These guys (Darkwood residents) are pretty organised, and usually pretty prepared,
so they are used to being isolated and know what to do," the SES spokeswoman said of
the area, which has been isolated twice this year.
About 240 public and Catholic schools were closed in the Lismore area due heavy
flooding, she said.
The NSW government has set up two evacuation centres in preparation for the severe
weather - at Southern Cross University in Lismore and Ocean Shores Golf Club in
Ocean Shores.
The NSW Fire Brigades has also sent 13 fire engines and 60 firefighters to help the
SES with recovery work.
Hundreds of people remain without power in parts of the region, but they should be
reconnected on Friday, a Country Energy spokesman said.
The rain, winds and lightning left 16,000 Country Energy customers on the NSW far
north coast without power overnight on Wednesday.
The Tweed area was worst affected, when a lightning strike knocked out powerlines to
the north and south of the population centre, stripping about 12,000 homes and
businesses of electricity.
People seeking emergency assistance during a flood or storm should call the State
Emergency Service on 132 500.
Queensland - with properties isolated, widespread blackouts and emergency services
forced to conduct flood rescues.
Heavy rain has closed 200 schools and left thousands of houses without power in
northern NSW, as the wild weather drifted south of the Queensland border.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a severe weather warning for the NSW
northern rivers, northern tablelands and mid-north coast.
There are flood warnings in place for the Tweed, Wilsons, Bellinger, Hastings, Orara
and Brunswick Rivers.
About 190mm of rain had fallen over the Tweed River area alone in the 30 hours to
3pm (AEST) Thursday.
Winds of 130km/h were recorded at Byron Bay on Thursday morning, with gusts of
125km/h possible in the next 24 to 48 hours, the bureau said.
"Very heavy rain, high winds and large waves will remain over northeast NSW for the
next 24 to 48 hours before the system weakens and moves away during Saturday," the
BoM said.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) said it had received 714 calls for assistance
across the region, with the majority, almost 500, coming from the Richmond/Tweed
area.
Emergency services made two rescues in northern NSW after motorists had driven into
floodwater, an SES spokeswoman said.
"We're asking residents that they be prepared for the event (flooding)," she told AAP.
"Preparation - including securing loose items so they don't become potential
missiles, also do some sandbagging around the house.
"Ensuring that they avoid any travel that is not necessary. Just stay off the roads
and never enter floodwaters."
About 381 properties in the Fingal Head area near Tweed Heads, and 500 residents of
Darkwood on the Bellinger River, are expected to be isolated by flood waters.
"These guys (Darkwood residents) are pretty organised, and usually pretty prepared,
so they are used to being isolated and know what to do," the SES spokeswoman said of
the area, which has been isolated twice this year.
About 240 public and Catholic schools were closed in the Lismore area due heavy
flooding, she said.
The NSW government has set up two evacuation centres in preparation for the severe
weather - at Southern Cross University in Lismore and Ocean Shores Golf Club in
Ocean Shores.
The NSW Fire Brigades has also sent 13 fire engines and 60 firefighters to help the
SES with recovery work.
Hundreds of people remain without power in parts of the region, but they should be
reconnected on Friday, a Country Energy spokesman said.
The rain, winds and lightning left 16,000 Country Energy customers on the NSW far
north coast without power overnight on Wednesday.
The Tweed area was worst affected, when a lightning strike knocked out powerlines to
the north and south of the population centre, stripping about 12,000 homes and
businesses of electricity.
People seeking emergency assistance during a flood or storm should call the State
Emergency Service on 132 500.
