As the most recent flood catastrophe in NSW becomes worse and moves north to create more havoc, a historic small village has been completely shut off.
Sydney awoke to its fifth consecutive morning of torrential rain following more than a month of rain since Saturday, and severe weather warnings are still in effect.
More than 55,000 residents have received evacuation orders or advisories, and areas of the Central Coast and Hunter are currently cut off from the outside world.
Tuesday just after 5 o’clock saw the closure of all roads leading into and out of the Hunter town of Broke.
Inundation by floodwater could cut off access to roads, water, sewerage, power, phones, and the internet, residents were warned.
When two persons tried to drive across a flooded bridge, the local RFS saved them from a floating cat while SES employees spent the night wading through chest-high water across the town.
River levels at Bulga had reached their highest in 70 years, and residents of nearby Combo, Glenridding, Dunolly, Whittingham, and Scotts Flat were also asked to depart.
The Lower Hunter River there might rise to 13.80 meters, and the Bureau of Meteorology warned that Singleton could be the next town to be cut off.
The bureau stated, “The heaviest rainfall has departed the Hunter basin, but additional rainfall is anticipated on Wednesday, which may cause significant rises in river levels and protracted flooding.”
We are keeping a careful eye on this scenario, and we’ll update our predictions as needed.
It happens after hundreds of Central Coast people were told to escape when floodwaters flooded Long Jetty at Tuggerah Lake, endangering 19 homes.
The Wyong Rover also shut off the township of Yarramalong.
As the soaking rains that pounded Sydney advance north, the NSW mid-north coast is now on flood alert.
The Northern Rivers region, which recently experienced the most disastrous floods in its history, is expected to have showers and potential storms.
The rain will exacerbate the floods currently occurring along the Mid North Coast, in the Hunter, and in some areas of the Northern Tablelands.
Sydney’s rain has stopped, but there are still closed roads, floating debris in the floodwaters, and entirely inundated businesses.
The Hawkesbury River in North Richmond has risen in level by more than 14 meters as a result of the ongoing rise in river levels.
With further rain predicted for early Wednesday morning, major flooding is still happening in North Richmond, Windsor, Sackville, Lower Portland, and Wiseman’s Ferry.
In NSW, some 50,000 people have received evacuation orders or advisories, and there are a number of serious flood alerts in effect.
Parts of the state, according to the bureau, got more than 700mm of rain in only four days.
Murray Watt, the federal emergency management minister, stated that despite the declaration of a natural catastrophe, NSW was still in danger.
According to Senator Watt, “the message is that hopefully the worst is over, but no one knows that for sure.”
Anthony Albanese, the prime minister, will travel on Wednesday with Dominic Perrottet, the premier of New South Wales, to the flood-ravaged areas of southern and western Sydney. These areas have seen four floods in the previous 18 months.
As the rain subsides, Sydney commuters are advised to stay home if possible.
The Transport Management Center reported that Newbridge Road in Milperra has reopened after being closed between Henry Lawson Drive and Governor Macquarie Drive.
Oxford Falls Road has also reopened at Oxford Falls.
Mulgoa Road has also been reopened from Mulgoa to Glenmore Park, although it is still closed between Mulgoa and Wallacia.