The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is actively preparing communities in the Northern Rivers, Tweed Valley and Mid North Coast for the impact of a rare Tropical Cyclone Alfred with additional personnel, specialised assets, and dedicated equipment now prepositioned in the region.
NSW SES is also facilitating over 20 community meetings in towns across the impacted areas to ensure residents are aware of the risks, forecasts and how to prepare.
More than fifty volunteers have departed in 15 different specialist vehicles from Units across Greater Sydney including Auburn, Bankstown, Blacktown, Camden, City of Sydney, Hornsby, and Liverpool, in support of local SES units.
NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan said the NSW SES and emergency partners are working hard to ensure communities are best prepared for the potential impacts.
“Assets including communication equipment, high clearance vehicles, aircraft and support personnel have now been deployed to the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast ahead of the Tropical Cyclone Alfred making landfall on Thursday or Friday,” Assistant Commissioner Hogan said.
“These volunteers are highly trained flood rescue and storm operators, and they bring with them a series of general purpose, light storm and medium storm vehicles.”
“Sandbagging supplies are actively being restocked with location points available on the NSW SES website and advertised on local social media pages.”
The impacts of the cyclone are already starting to be felt in the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast areas of NSW.
“This is an unpredictable, multi-hazard weather event and residents in the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers need to prepare for damaging and destructive winds and heavy rainfall which can cause flooding.”” Assistant Commissioner Hogan said.
Assistant Commissioner Hogan also urged the community to remain calm and support each other during the severe weather event.
“There’s no need to panic buy, supermarkets have good supply chains and transport routes are currently open.”
“If your community becomes isolated and needs resupply of essential goods, NSW SES will assist with this. Communities should be preparing their properties, staying up to date with the latest warnings and supporting each other during this time.”
The NSW SES advises residents to prepare their homes for strong winds, by putting away loose items around their home, trimming trees aways from properties and not parking vehicles under trees or powerlines.
Prepare an emergency kit with essential items including identification documents, medications, a torch, mobile phone charger and a battery-operated radio.
The NSW SES is advising people to download the Hazards Near Me App which will include the latest warnings and information for impacted communities.
If you need assistance during floods and storms call the NSW SES on 132 500 or Triple Zero (000) for life threatening emergencies.
A Cyclone Watch and Flood Watch have been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Catchments listed in the flood watch include:
- Tweed and Rous Rivers moderate to major flooding
- Brunswick River and Marshalls Creek moderate to major flooding
- Wilsons River moderate to major flooding
- Richmond River moderate to major flooding
- Clarence River moderate to major flooding
- Orara River moderate to major flooding
- Coffs Coast
- Bellinger and Kalang Rivers moderate to major flooding
- Nambucca River moderate to major flooding
- Macleay River moderate to major flooding
- Hastings River moderate to major flooding
- Camden Haven River moderate to major flooding
ENDS
Media enquiries: NSW SES Media on 1800 067 234
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Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers update
Current self-serve sandbag locations