Wednesday 21st of May 11.10a.m. Wet and muggy. 16.7 / 24.1kph ENE, Hg 93%, 18.8C / 65.8F. Showers.
Moon is 39%
Record flooding in NSW leaves residents trapped, isolated as rain continues
5 hours ago
By Max Tillman and Bruce MacKenzie
The flooded Hastings River at Wauchope has cut roads. (Supplied: NSW SES)
Homes have been inundated and people are on their roofs amid record flooding on the New South Wales Mid North Coast.
The Manning River is flooding at a level never seen before at Taree, surpassing the 1929 record of six metres early this morning, and is still rising.
State Emergency Service spokesperson Andrew Edmunds said the major areas of concern included Glenthorne and South Taree, where weather conditions were limiting accessibility for emergency crews.
"We've had reports from residents in those areas that water is starting to come into their homes," he said.
"Fortunately some people have been able to shelter on verandahs, on tables, in the second storey of their homes, and some have made their way onto roofs as well.
"We believe there are currently 52 people trapped by floodwater at Glenthorne and as soon as we are safely able to do so we will be getting into those people and helping them to safety."
Aerial rescue
Among those trapped was Jordan Halloran, whose Glenthorne home has been inundated.
Ms Halloran, who has since been rescued, told ABC News Breakfast that the bottom floor of her house was flooded and that the upper level was under threat.
The ABC understands a helicopter arrived at the scene at about 9:00am to begin rescuing at-risk residents.
Ms Halloran's husband Sam posted a picture on social media with the caption: "Thanks everyone".
Ms Halloran was surprised by the sheer volume of water.
"In the 2021 floods there may have been maybe a foot of water through the bottom storey of this house," she said.
"This area is not insurable because of the cost of insurance.
"You would never predict something like this, this amount of … water and velocity."
Mr Edmunds said people in the worst-affected areas could expect to be isolated for some time.
"We will basically see around 16,000 people, or 7,400 dwellings that will be isolated for at least a day," he said.
"We expect that access will be difficult and we're advising people in Taree to avoid any unnecessary travel.
"If you haven't been asked to evacuate, stay home."
Craig Emerton, a fifth-generation dairy farmer at Croki, north of Taree, described the situation as "dire".
"Totally unprecedented — nobody has seen anything like this here," he said.
"We've got cattle on the highest part of the farm standing up to their bellies in water, nowhere to go.
"Our house is inundated, it's almost up to seat-level on our dining chairs.
"We're just trying to stay dry, or warm."
Calls for help
During the 24 hours to Wednesday morning, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) responded to 887 incidents, including 118 flood rescues.
