Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers update

Tropical Cyclone Alfred update

Northern NSW is facing a combination of gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, and widespread flooding expected over the coming days. Destructive winds are expected to cause significant damage, possibly bringing down trees, powerlines, and damaging buildings. Once the winds subside, heavy rainfall will lead to moderate to major flooding in areas. This is a very dangerous weather system and residents are urged to take action now to stay safe.

Stay informed by downloading the Hazards Near Me App (Download for iOS | Download for Android) which will include the latest warnings and information for impacted communities.

Community advice and preparedness

Northern NSW is facing three natural disasters in one with a combination of gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, and widespread flooding expected over the coming days. Destructive winds are expected to cause significant damage, possibly bringing down trees, powerlines, and damaging buildings. Once the winds subside, heavy rainfall will lead to moderate to major flooding in areas. This is a very dangerous weather system and residents are urged to take action now to stay safe.

For preparedness advice and general information, call the Public Information and Inquiry Centre (PIIC) on 1800 227 228.

For assistance during floods and storms call the NSW SES on 132 500 or Triple Zero (000) for life threatening emergencies.

Download the Hazards Near Me App for the latest warnings and information.

If you are concerned for your loved ones, please use the Australian Red Cross Register.Find.Reunite service - https://register.redcross.org.au/ This service lets family, friends and emergency services know that you are safe in the event of an emergency.
For free health advice 24/7, call Healthdirect at 1800 022 222. If you need support in another language, contact TIS National at 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.
If you or someone you know needs specialist mental health care, please call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. It is a free service operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is staffed by specialist mental health professionals who offer mental health advice, and referrals to local mental health services.

What to do

Residents should prepare their homes for strong winds, including putting away loose items around their home, trimming trees aways from properties and not parking vehicles under trees or powerlines.

Activate your emergency kit, which includes your identification documents, medicines, some water, a torch, mobile phone charger and battery radio. Make a plan for your animals.

Avoid coastal areas and stay away from beaches, rock platforms, and headlands.

Move valuables, important documents and chemicals to higher ground in case of flooding.

Stay updated with warnings from NSW SES and the Bureau of Meteorology.

If major riverine flooding occurs, people may be asked to evacuate their homes.

Never drive walk ride or play in floodwater.

Visit our FAQs for more information.

Evacuation Centres

Emergency checklists

Sandbag locations

Online Community Meeting

Current NSW SES warnings

View real-time warnings for flood, severe weather and tsunami in NSW by downloading the Hazards Near Me App and setting your watch zones, or using the below HazardWatch map.

Download for iOS | Download for Android

Advice

An incident has started. Stay up to date as the situation changes.

Watch and Act

There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family. NSW SES does not issue a Watch and Act level warning for tsunami.

Australian Warning System emergency red icons representing flood, storm and tsunami.

Emergency Warning

An Emergency Warning is the highest level of warning. You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.

Frequently asked questions

Every flood and storm is different. Impacts from Tropical Cyclone Alfred means conditions and environments can be hard to predict. Future floods may be different than expected or experienced.

If warnings are issued for your area, follow the directions of emergency services, and check on your neighbours to ensure they have received critical emergency messages.

How do I know if I have a warning for my area?

All warnings are live on the NSW SES website and available via the Hazards Near Me app. Make sure you have downloaded the Hazards Near Me App and set your watch zones

Power Outage Information

In the case of power outages, residents can seek updates from their energy distributors:

Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter region residents contact Ausgrid: ausgrid.com.au or 13 13 88
Sydney’s Greater West, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, the Illawarra and South Coast residents contact Endeavour Energy: endeavourenergy.com.au or 13 10 03
All other NSW residents (including northern NSW) contact Essential Energy: essentialenergy.com.au or 13 20 80.

Power outage preparation

Are you prepared for a power outage? Check. Plan. Do. Power Outage Plan

What is a power outage and what to do | NSW Climate and Energy Action

Power outage factsheet Factsheet_Power-Outage_Cyclone-Alfred

Residents are being asked to prepare by following the steps on this website: https://poweroutageplan.com.au/#my-power-outage-checklist

Energy Safety Messages

Always assume a fallen wire is live and dangerous, stay at least 8 metres clear of them.
Avoid wires that are hanging low, on the ground or tangled in trees and storm debris.
Never drive across fallen powerlines.
If you’re using a portable generator for power, keep it outside, clear from windows and doorways. Don’t allow deadly exhaust fumes to enter your home.
If you have an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 for non-urgent matters.

Mental Health support

Given the significant experience of residents across Northern NSW during the 2022 weather event, many people are likely to be feeling concerned about Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Prepare psychologically. It can be terrifying when homes or communities are threatened by a cyclone. There are steps you can take to psychologically prepare.

If you or someone you know needs specialist mental health care, please call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. It is a free service operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is staffed by specialist mental health professionals who offer mental health advice, and referrals to local mental health services.

For free health advice anytime day or night, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Need support in your language? You can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.

If you need crisis mental health support, please call Lifeline Australia at any time on 13 11 14

Children and young people can call Kids Helpline at any time on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at kidshelpline.com.au

For non-crisis mental health support, please call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36

There is also a range of online resources to support you and your loved ones. Please visit Beyond Blue and Lifeline online.

Young people should visit headspace.org.au, Kids Helpline or ReachOut.com

Where can I go to get sandbags?

Sandbagging location points are available throughout Northern NSW, particularly in the Northern Rivers, and will be advertised on the sandbag locations page and local SES unit social media pages daily. 

What else do I need to think about preparing?

Emergency planning guides and checklists are available here.

NSW Health advice ahead of Cyclone Alfred and associated flooding

Flooding may impact healthcare services, particularly due to staff access issues, and contingency planning is underway.

For free health advice 24/7, call Healthdirect at 1800 022 222. If you need support in another language, contact TIS National at 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.

If your life is in danger, call Triple Zero. For mental health support, visit NSW Health

What do I do if I am camping or in a caravan park in an affected area?

Caravan parks are often located close to creeks and rivers and are situated in coastal or low-lying areas.

During wet weather events some parks may have access roads blocked or experience deep, fast flowing and dangerous floods that can impact vans and properties.

If you are visiting, or living in a caravan park, you need to: 

Know the warnings by visiting the Understand warning levels page.

Download the Hazards Near Me App and set your location.

Make a plan make to keep you and your family members safe

Be prepared

How do I prepare if I live on a property?

If you are a property owner or farmer, make a plan to raise your equipment including water pumps and livestock to higher ground.

Store all chemicals securely and out of potential floodwater risk and ensure your emergency kit is ready.

Read more about preparing your property in the Local Land Services Farm flood readiness kit.

If you have horses, farm animals and livestock, you need an emergency plan for them, whether they live on your property or are kept elsewhere. Don’t leave it until there is an emergency – plan now and ensure their safety.

Read more about livestock safety in emergencies from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

Where and when should I go?

If you are in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

If you have been asked to leave:

If you can do so safely, go to a friend or family members’ house who is outside of the flood affected area. Make sure not to drive through flood water as you may get stuck further in cracked roads or hit unseen debris.

If you can’t get there, go to a local evacuation centre (if you can get there safely): The NSW SES is constantly updating evacuation centres, the latest list is live on our website at https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/during-an-emergency/evacuation-centres

If you can’t get there, please call the NSW SES on 132500.

If you have been asked to prepare to evacuate:

If you can do so safely, go to a friend or family members’ house who is outside of the flood affected area. Make sure not to drive through flood water as you may get stuck further in cracked roads or hit unseen debris.

You do not have to leave yet but if you are feeling unsafe, please still go to an evacuation centre: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/during-an-emergency/evacuation-centres

Use this time to prepare your house ready to leave if an evacuation warning gets issues

If no warning has been issued but you are feeling unsafe:

If you can do so safely, go to a friend or family members’ house who is outside of the flood affected area. Make sure not to drive through flood water.

What do I need to do once evacuated?

Follow the instructions to leave immediately. Grab your emergency kit if you have one and supplies for 3 to 7 days.

Assist household members who need extra help evacuating.

Tell your neighbours and friends of your decision and assist them, if you can.

If there's time before you leave, turn off the power, gas, water, and lock doors and windows.

Stay with friends or family in a safe location or you can head to an evacuation centre

All current evacuation centres are listed on the NSW SES website. Please see the latest list at https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/during-an-emergency/evacuation-centres

Who will look after the animals?

Not all evacuation centres are able to accommodate pets and animals. If they can, good animal etiquette includes:

Ensure companion animals and horses have proper identification, such as a microchip or brand, and verify that the microchip is registered with a licensed registry.

Upon arrival at an evacuation centre, attach luggage tags to the horse's halter, displaying the horse’s name, owner’s name, and contact number for easy identification.

Notify the evacuation centre staff upon arrival if your animals are not vaccinated.

Avoid sharing water sources between your horse or livestock and other animals to reduce the risk of illness.

Whenever possible, maintain their regular feeding routine to minimise stress and prevent digestive issues.

If you must leave your animals behind, follow these steps:

Don't tether animals so they can move to safety if necessary.

Leave at least a week's supply of food and water in stable, non-tippable containers in several accessible places. Fill anything that can be filled with fresh water.

Ensure pets have identification like ID tags and are microchipped (if applicable).

Post a note on your front door or mailbox with your contact information, the number of pets, their species, names, and a photo.

If possible, keep pets indoors in a secure, windowless room away from hazards. Restrict access to areas where a pet may become stuck.

If pets must stay outside, ensure they have access to water that doesn’t rely on power.

Turn off any power supplies that may cause a hazard for your pet.

Leave identification and contact details on large animals whenever possible.

Provide at least one week’s worth of food or ensure access to sufficient pasture.

Most importantly, provide as much water as possible before evacuating.

If you find wildlife impacted during emergencies, please contact WIRES on 1300 094 737, or Wildlife Rescue Inc on 1300 596 457 (24/7 number)

Community members wanting to help

As we actively respond to the weather event from Cyclone Alfred within Northern NSW, it’s essential to recognise the critical role that communities play in supporting those affected. As this dynamic situation unfolds, your support may be needed more than ever.

If you are an individual or part of a group that is planning to or is ready and willing to help, consider partnering with the NSW SES, local authorities, and endorsed community groups. Your support could be invaluable for urgent tasks such as sandbagging, sharing information, and participating in cleanup activities.

We encourage you to stay connected with us on the NSW SES social media pages as the situation evolves and community needs are identified. Please continue to report any issues or gaps you see to the relevant emergency services on the ground in your community.

Working together for a coordinated and efficient response will ensure our communities get the right help at the right time.

Emergent Groups - Natural Disasters

I want to check if my friend or loved one has arrived at an evacuation centre – how do I do that?

If you are concerned for your loved ones, please use the Redcross site Register.Find.Reunite. This service lets family, friends and emergency services know that you are safe in the event of an emergency. 

Where do I find the latest information for school closures?

This list is managed by the department for education and can be found here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/school-operational-status

How do I find out about road closures/traffic?

To keep up to date with current road closures in your area visit Live Traffic NSW.

How you can support

While NSW SES is not coordinating donations at this stage, support options can be found on the ⁠NSW Government website.

Please do not take donations directly to evacuation centres, as they are focused on providing immediate shelter and support, and they are already equipped with essential items.

Petrol station updates

Petrol station opening times in Northern NSW may be impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred. For the latest updates, please visit the following pages:

FuelWatch: https://www.fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au/app

Ampol: Cyclone Alfred Updates| Ampol