Search resumes for lady lacking in floodwater in NSW Hunter area

A lady remains to be lacking after being swept away by floodwaters within the Hunter Valley whereas about 20,000 properties are with out energy after a weekend of untamed climate throughout components of NSW.

The 26-year-old was swept away on Saturday night after escaping a automobile that grew to become caught when it was pushed into floodwater at Rothbury, close to Cessnock.

NSW Police stated a multi-agency search was suspended yesterday resulting from extreme climate situations and poor visibility, however the search resumed this morning. 

The SES stated it obtained greater than 3,600 requires assist throughout the state because the begin of the extreme climate occasion on Saturday, with its crews responding to 2,092 jobs.

There had been 25 flood rescues included in these jobs.

Four flood emergency warnings are in place: one within the Hunter area for components of Raymond Terrace; and three for various areas of Gunnedah within the state’s north west.

The SES has issued 15 watch and act warnings throughout the broader Hunter area and New England and north-west areas.

SES Northern Zone Deputy Commander Superintendent Ian Robinson stated an evacuation order for some properties at Raymond Terrace would seemingly stay in place “for a while yet”, as components of the Hunter River continued to rise upstream.

“We’ve got a bit of a focal point up around the Singleton area … we’ve issued three prepare to evacuate warnings this morning very early,” he advised ABC Newcastle Breakfast.

“It’s not imminent, but we’re expecting the flood water there to reach around about 12.5 metres which is quite significant … that is under the major flood level, but it’s certainly over the minor and into the moderate.”

Superintendent Robinson stated the flood water would finally come down the Hunter by Maitland and likewise have an effect on Raymond Terrace, so the evacuation order would “stay in place for the time being”.

In the state’s north west and northern tablelands, cities like Uralla had been peppered by snow over the weekend, resulting in energy outages and highway closures.

SES North West Command Acting Chief Superintendent Stuart Fisher stated about 500 individuals had been affected by evacuation orders within the emergency warning areas of Gunnedah.

“We do have an evacuation centre open up for those who wish to go, and that’s at the PCYC in Gunnedah,” he advised ABC New England North West Breakfast.

Acting Chief Superintendent Fisher stated the Namoi River at Gunnedah was at about 8.2 metres on Monday morning, at main flood stage.

“There’s a whole heap of water behind that coming out of the Keepit Dam and working its way through Tamworth and down, and we’re just watching to see what that does,” he stated.

“Again, it is the identical message we give each time, don’t enter flood waters.”

Power provider Essential Energy has reported more than 21,000 homes were impacted by power outages on Sunday evening, with most outages continuing into this morning.

Most of the outages were at Kempsey, South West Rocks and Smithtown on the Mid North Coast, with more than 10,000 properties impacted.

Armidale, Walcha, Guyra, Bendemeer and surrounds had greater than 8,200 properties with out energy, whereas 3,000 had been with out energy at Smiths Lake, Pacific Palms, Coomba Park and surrounds.