21-05-2025
'We were surrounded': Raymond Terrace rescue after rapid river rise
Sami Fitzgerald moved horses and relocated her car in preparation for the floods, but did not expect to wake up on Tuesday morning to water almost at her front door.
Her Raymond Terrace home is up on stilts, but is just a stone's throw from the Williams river.
That river swelled quickly between Monday and Tuesday. Its rapid rise trapped Ms Fitzgerald and her dog Tess in their home and they had to be rescued at about 7am on Tuesday.
"I've lived here for two years and not been through this before, so I didn't really know what was going to happen," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"I thought I could hear something this morning, and I woke up and I was on top of water. We were surrounded.
"I have a bit of a downstairs area, and it was pretty much almost at the top of the door downstairs and creeping up my stairs."
Ms Fitzgerald called for help, and the NSW State Emergency Service arrived in about 15 minutes by boat to ferry her to dry land.
"It still feels surreal," Ms Fitzgerald said. "Even now I'm like 'wow'."
Ms Fitzgerald managed to secure a hotel for herself and Tess on Tuesday night, then plans to sleep in a horse float at the property where her horses have been relocated.
"I'll stay out there with them until the water's gone down enough to bring them home," she said.
The Williams river wasn't alone in hitting the major flood level on Tuesday.
The Paterson also reached the milestone, and the town of Paterson was largely affected by flooding. An evacuation order was issued for some streets on Monday night, and the town was cut off from Tocal and Vacy on Tuesday.
John Tucker Park was completely underwater by Tuesday morning, with waters engulfing the playground equipment and reaching the shade sail above.
The town has one supermarket and its owners, Kelly and Wayne Charnock, drove their campervan from their Gillieston Heights home to the front of the Friendly Grocer so they could keep it open for customers to stock up.
"The past 24 hours has been crazy," Ms Charnock said. "But everyone's been so beautiful and patient and just waiting down the aisles.
"People have been pretty well prepared. Yesterday we were really busy.
"The reports from everyone coming in have been about how quickly it has risen. I think that has shocked a lot of people."
Paterson Tavern opened for a few hours for locals, but its kitchen was limited as staff weren't able to travel.
The pub is also undergoing renovations, which are about two weeks from completion, but are now on hold as tradespeople can't reach Paterson.
The tavern put out a Facebook post urging non-locals to avoid the area as access roads were cut and it was not safe to visit.
Tavern co-owner Daniel Maroulis was stuck at the East Gresford Boydell's vineyard he owns with wife Jane on Tuesday.
"We're just bunkering down at the moment," he said.
"I'm not sure if we could get through to Vacy, but we have no reason to leave.
"The Paterson and Allyn rivers come up pretty quickly and recede fairly quickly.
"We're hoping the roads will be open tomorrow."
Sami Fitzgerald moved horses and relocated her car in preparation for the floods, but did not expect to wake up on Tuesday morning to water almost at her front door.
Her Raymond Terrace home is up on stilts, but is just a stone's throw from the Williams river.
That river swelled quickly between Monday and Tuesday. Its rapid rise trapped Ms Fitzgerald and her dog Tess in their home and they had to be rescued at about 7am on Tuesday.
"I've lived here for two years and not been through this before, so I didn't really know what was going to happen," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"I thought I could hear something this morning, and I woke up and I was on top of water. We were surrounded.
"I have a bit of a downstairs area, and it was pretty much almost at the top of the door downstairs and creeping up my stairs."
Ms Fitzgerald called for help, and the NSW State Emergency Service arrived in about 15 minutes by boat to ferry her to dry land.
"It still feels surreal," Ms Fitzgerald said. "Even now I'm like 'wow'."
Ms Fitzgerald managed to secure a hotel for herself and Tess on Tuesday night, then plans to sleep in a horse float at the property where her horses have been relocated.
"I'll stay out there with them until the water's gone down enough to bring them home," she said.
The Williams river wasn't alone in hitting the major flood level on Tuesday.
The Paterson also reached the milestone, and the town of Paterson was largely affected by flooding. An evacuation order was issued for some streets on Monday night, and the town was cut off from Tocal and Vacy on Tuesday.
John Tucker Park was completely underwater by Tuesday morning, with waters engulfing the playground equipment and reaching the shade sail above.
The town has one supermarket and its owners, Kelly and Wayne Charnock, drove their campervan from their Gillieston Heights home to the front of the Friendly Grocer so they could keep it open for customers to stock up.
"The past 24 hours has been crazy," Ms Charnock said. "But everyone's been so beautiful and patient and just waiting down the aisles.
"People have been pretty well prepared. Yesterday we were really busy.
"The reports from everyone coming in have been about how quickly it has risen. I think that has shocked a lot of people."
Paterson Tavern opened for a few hours for locals, but its kitchen was limited as staff weren't able to travel.
The pub is also undergoing renovations, which are about two weeks from completion, but are now on hold as tradespeople can't reach Paterson.
The tavern put out a Facebook post urging non-locals to avoid the area as access roads were cut and it was not safe to visit.
Tavern co-owner Daniel Maroulis was stuck at the East Gresford Boydell's vineyard he owns with wife Jane on Tuesday.
"We're just bunkering down at the moment," he said.
"I'm not sure if we could get through to Vacy, but we have no reason to leave.
"The Paterson and Allyn rivers come up pretty quickly and recede fairly quickly.
"We're hoping the roads will be open tomorrow."
Sami Fitzgerald moved horses and relocated her car in preparation for the floods, but did not expect to wake up on Tuesday morning to water almost at her front door.
Her Raymond Terrace home is up on stilts, but is just a stone's throw from the Williams river.
That river swelled quickly between Monday and Tuesday. Its rapid rise trapped Ms Fitzgerald and her dog Tess in their home and they had to be rescued at about 7am on Tuesday.
"I've lived here for two years and not been through this before, so I didn't really know what was going to happen," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"I thought I could hear something this morning, and I woke up and I was on top of water. We were surrounded.
"I have a bit of a downstairs area, and it was pretty much almost at the top of the door downstairs and creeping up my stairs."
Ms Fitzgerald called for help, and the NSW State Emergency Service arrived in about 15 minutes by boat to ferry her to dry land.
"It still feels surreal," Ms Fitzgerald said. "Even now I'm like 'wow'."
Ms Fitzgerald managed to secure a hotel for herself and Tess on Tuesday night, then plans to sleep in a horse float at the property where her horses have been relocated.
"I'll stay out there with them until the water's gone down enough to bring them home," she said.
The Williams river wasn't alone in hitting the major flood level on Tuesday.
The Paterson also reached the milestone, and the town of Paterson was largely affected by flooding. An evacuation order was issued for some streets on Monday night, and the town was cut off from Tocal and Vacy on Tuesday.
John Tucker Park was completely underwater by Tuesday morning, with waters engulfing the playground equipment and reaching the shade sail above.
The town has one supermarket and its owners, Kelly and Wayne Charnock, drove their campervan from their Gillieston Heights home to the front of the Friendly Grocer so they could keep it open for customers to stock up.
"The past 24 hours has been crazy," Ms Charnock said. "But everyone's been so beautiful and patient and just waiting down the aisles.
"People have been pretty well prepared. Yesterday we were really busy.
"The reports from everyone coming in have been about how quickly it has risen. I think that has shocked a lot of people."
Paterson Tavern opened for a few hours for locals, but its kitchen was limited as staff weren't able to travel.
The pub is also undergoing renovations, which are about two weeks from completion, but are now on hold as tradespeople can't reach Paterson.
The tavern put out a Facebook post urging non-locals to avoid the area as access roads were cut and it was not safe to visit.
Tavern co-owner Daniel Maroulis was stuck at the East Gresford Boydell's vineyard he owns with wife Jane on Tuesday.
"We're just bunkering down at the moment," he said.
"I'm not sure if we could get through to Vacy, but we have no reason to leave.
"The Paterson and Allyn rivers come up pretty quickly and recede fairly quickly.
"We're hoping the roads will be open tomorrow."
Sami Fitzgerald moved horses and relocated her car in preparation for the floods, but did not expect to wake up on Tuesday morning to water almost at her front door.
Her Raymond Terrace home is up on stilts, but is just a stone's throw from the Williams river.
That river swelled quickly between Monday and Tuesday. Its rapid rise trapped Ms Fitzgerald and her dog Tess in their home and they had to be rescued at about 7am on Tuesday.
"I've lived here for two years and not been through this before, so I didn't really know what was going to happen," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"I thought I could hear something this morning, and I woke up and I was on top of water. We were surrounded.
"I have a bit of a downstairs area, and it was pretty much almost at the top of the door downstairs and creeping up my stairs."
Ms Fitzgerald called for help, and the NSW State Emergency Service arrived in about 15 minutes by boat to ferry her to dry land.
"It still feels surreal," Ms Fitzgerald said. "Even now I'm like 'wow'."
Ms Fitzgerald managed to secure a hotel for herself and Tess on Tuesday night, then plans to sleep in a horse float at the property where her horses have been relocated.
"I'll stay out there with them until the water's gone down enough to bring them home," she said.
The Williams river wasn't alone in hitting the major flood level on Tuesday.
The Paterson also reached the milestone, and the town of Paterson was largely affected by flooding. An evacuation order was issued for some streets on Monday night, and the town was cut off from Tocal and Vacy on Tuesday.
John Tucker Park was completely underwater by Tuesday morning, with waters engulfing the playground equipment and reaching the shade sail above.
The town has one supermarket and its owners, Kelly and Wayne Charnock, drove their campervan from their Gillieston Heights home to the front of the Friendly Grocer so they could keep it open for customers to stock up.
"The past 24 hours has been crazy," Ms Charnock said. "But everyone's been so beautiful and patient and just waiting down the aisles.
"People have been pretty well prepared. Yesterday we were really busy.
"The reports from everyone coming in have been about how quickly it has risen. I think that has shocked a lot of people."
Paterson Tavern opened for a few hours for locals, but its kitchen was limited as staff weren't able to travel.
The pub is also undergoing renovations, which are about two weeks from completion, but are now on hold as tradespeople can't reach Paterson.
The tavern put out a Facebook post urging non-locals to avoid the area as access roads were cut and it was not safe to visit.
Tavern co-owner Daniel Maroulis was stuck at the East Gresford Boydell's vineyard he owns with wife Jane on Tuesday.
"We're just bunkering down at the moment," he said.
"I'm not sure if we could get through to Vacy, but we have no reason to leave.
"The Paterson and Allyn rivers come up pretty quickly and recede fairly quickly.
"We're hoping the roads will be open tomorrow."
