Thousands remain isolated as rain continues during record NSW flooding

Australia Broadcast Center

21-05-2025

A massive rescue operation is continuing across the NSW Mid-North Coast today, where thousands of residents remain isolated by record flooding.
SES spokesperson Andrew Edmunds said emergency service crews had carried out 379 flood rescues across the region since 5:00am yesterday.
"[There are] around about 100 to 150 incidents that we are yet to get to, just because access is not really possible at the moment," he said.
"In some locations we still have very fast flowing water, which makes it too dangerous to put boats on the water.
"In other locations the rivers have risen to high for us to get vehicles in such as out high-clearance vehicles and of course if the weather doesn't allow us to use air assets, then that really does slow things down."
An estimated 50,000 people have been warned to prepare for isolations, as widespread areas of rain, with locally intense falls, have led to new evacuation warnings across much of the region.
In the Kempsey CBD, floodwater from the Macleay River has overtopped the levee and is still rising.
The SES is coordinating a multi-agency response on the ground to evacuate the area, which includes several hotels.
Major flooding is also expected to continue at Settlement Point, Macksville and Port Macquarie today.
SES State Duty Commander, Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone, said in a statement that conditions overnight had been challenging.
He said people were still waiting to be rescued in Taree, Glenthorne, Oxley Island and Moto.
"Our crews have been working through the night to complete flood rescues, but our message to people still awaiting rescue, is to remain in safe locations, away from flood waters in dry locations if possible," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
"While dozens of rescues have been completed overnight, they continue to be received."
Torrential rain has been recorded across the region.
Almost 300 millimetres (mm) has been received at Moparrabah, west of Kempsey, since 9:00am yesterday.
Other intense falls include 286mm at Bellingin, and 218 at Thora.
Widespread 24-hour rainfall totals of between 100 and 150 mm are forecast again today, but higher localised totals of between 200 and 300 mm are expected in some areas.
Locations which may be affected include Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Woolgoolga, Sawtell and Dorrigo.
An isolated dairy farmer from Vacy, in the Dungog Shire, was forced to dump thousands of litres of fresh milk this week due to flooding.
Farmer David Williams said milk tankers could not access his property, and his cattle had been confined to sheds for days.
"The [sheds are the] only dry spot left on the farm."
Emergency warnings are in place for the following locations:
Additional evacuation centres have opened, including at the Kempsey Showground.
Across the state, centres are open at:
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has forecast heavy, locally intense rainfall for the Mid North Coast, and parts of the Northern Rivers, Hunter, Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes and Plains forecast districts on Thursday.
The weather system is likely to deepen into a low-pressure system late Thursday or early Friday.
The BOM said the system was then expected to move south towards the Far South Coast by late Friday.
Essential Energy said it would begin aerial patrols around Taree on Thursday to assess the damage, as thousands of homes were without power.
Essential Energy Mid North Coast operations manager Rob Ridley said workers were waiting for flood waters to reside before beginning power infrastructure repairs.
"We will have aerial patrols up to give us a better view so we can get an understanding of where the faults are, and what we need to rectify," he said.
The federal and state governments yesterday activated disaster assistance for communities in 16 local government areas, including:
For local warnings and information visit ABC Emergency.