The dramatic images show the moment a terrified young woman was rescued from the rising flooding as the wild weather continued to wreak havoc in NSW on Saturday night.
The woman, believed to be in her twenties, clung desperately to a tree as the glacial current ripped her off after being swept away by the treacherous waters.
Emergency workers bravely fought to save her and managed to bring her a life preserver before putting her in safety in Holsworthy, south-west Sydney, on Saturday night.
The rescue came as 500,000 residents in south-west Sydney faced evacuation orders after heavy rains hitting the east coast triggered multiple flood warnings.
Terrified woman clings to a tree while being abused by flood waters in south-west Sydney
Some 500,000 residents in south-west Sydney have been told to evacuate as heavy rain hitting the east coast of NSW caused multiple flood warnings.
The terrified young woman was rescued from rising flooding as wild weather continued to wreak havoc in NSW on Saturday night
People in suburbs such as Camden, Wallacia, Liverpool, Georges Hall, Chipping Norton, Lansvale and Moorebank were told to head to higher ground on Saturday evening, with a warning from the State Emergency Service that they could soon be cut off by flood waters.
“Please be prepared to evacuate shortly in advance,” said NSW Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke.
‘Please make sure you prepare your properties in the best possible way and, if in doubt, evict us sooner.
“You don’t necessarily wait for us to place an order, asking or suggesting you leave.”
The SES warned: “If you receive a text message from +61 444 444 444, it is an official alert that requires attention and action soon.”
Authorities also fear Sydney’s main water source, the Warragamba Dam, could overflow and trigger widespread flooding when the flood broke a 118-year record.
SES volunteers organized at least three rescues from the flood waters, with more than 240 requests for help as the incessant rain caused chaos.
Ambulance, fire, police and SES personnel desperately tried to find a man who was dragged into the Hacking River near Otford in Illawarra, south of Sydney.
A rural firefighter spotted the man in a nearby stream and set off into the icy rising waters to take him to a safe place on the river bank.
Additional RFS crew members then helped him climb to higher ground, where he was assessed for injuries and taken to hospital.
Ambulance, firefighters, police and SES personnel desperately tried to find a man who was dragged into the Hacking River near Otford, in the Illawarra region of southern Sydney.
Nine people were also rescued from flood waters in Austral, south-west Sydney, when two cars were stranded in rising waters.
NSW Emergency Minister Steph Cooke said sudden flooding could occur from Newcastle to Jervis Bay.
Nine more people were also rescued from flood waters in Austral, south-west Sydney, when two cars were stranded in rising waters.
“The two cars were about 40cm from water, which is enough to be very dangerous,” a Rural Fire spokesman said.
“The occupants of two vehicles were assisted on higher ground by our members and have left home safely.”
Authorities warned on Saturday earlier that the current episode of rain would only get worse, with more rain, strong winds and rising seas.
The federal government approved ADF support at the request of NSW on Friday night, with 100 soldiers and two helicopters available as of Sunday, said Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt.
“I want to assure people that the federal government … is 100 percent ready for what awaits us,” Senator Watt said from Brisbane on Saturday.
“One of the things we’ve learned over the last two years is that when we don’t have a federal government that takes responsibility and isn’t proactive, bad things can happen.”
Jane Golding, of the Bureau of Meteorology, said there would be a “deterioration” of weather overnight, with a risk of sudden and landslides.
“Rainfall rates will increase,” he said.
“We will start to see the wind increase as well. We will see how the seas whip and we will see how the rivers respond to the rain that falls ”.
More than 200 millimeters of rain fell south of Wollongong overnight, with a total of six hours of between 80 and 150 millimeters in Sydney and Illawarra.
Ilwarwarra district was affected by its heaviest rain in July since 1904.
The deluge comes the first weekend of school holidays in the state and drivers are asked to be very careful.
“We know flooding is extremely dangerous, especially for drivers. If the road is flooded, turn around and find another way,” said Roger Weeks of Transport for NSW.
Sydney’s entry and exit routes are likely to face congestion, and heavy traffic is expected at known pinch points, especially around the airport.
Dangerous surfing conditions are also expected.
Torrential rains, flash floods, landslides, harmful winds and power outages threaten Sydney and NSW residents
Residents of the Sydney and Illawarra regions were warned earlier that sudden floods are “essentially guaranteed” with three months of rain to fall in the next five days.
The Meteorological Office issued a severe weather alert for the metropolitan city of Sydney, Illawarra and parts of the south coast, central tables and southern tables on Saturday morning.
NSW Emergency Minister Steph Cooke said sudden flooding could occur from Newcastle to Jervis Bay.
The Meteorological Office said the system is likely to develop on Sunday or Monday, prolonging persistent rain until next week.
Flooding is possible for Hunter, the central coast, the Greater Sydney region and the south coast from Saturday, with flood monitoring at catchments between Newcastle and Batemans Bay, including Sydney and Ilwarwarra.
Risk areas include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, the Upper Coxs, Colo, Macdonald, Woronora, Patterson, Williams and Lower Hunter rivers.
The upper and lower Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers are also at risk.
Emergency Minister Cooke said sudden flooding could occur from Newcastle to Jervis Bay.
“We are all waiting nervously to see what happens,” he said Saturday, adding that he continued to be confident that emergency services were prepared for what was to come.
“My message to everyone is that if the rains haven’t affected you yet, don’t think they’ve saved you. Maybe we haven’t seen the worst yet.”
THE FIVE-DAY WEATHER FORECAST IN YOUR CITY
Sydney:
Saturday: Shower or two. Maximum 19 Min 11.
Sunday: Showers. Maximum 19 Min 11.
Monday: Shower or two. Maximum 19 Min 12.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 20 Min 10.
BRISBANE:
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 23 Min 10.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 23 Min 11.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 22 Min 13.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 23 Min 12.
ADELAIDE:
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Maximum 18 Min 9.
Sunday: Cloudy. Maximum 17 Min 10.
Monday: Showers. Maximum 15 Min 11.
Tuesday: Showers decreasing. Maximum 15 Min 9.
PERTH:
Saturday: Showers. Maximum 18 Min 12.
Sunday: Decreasing showers. Maximum 19 Min 12.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 19 Min 8.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny. Maximum 20 min 8.
MELBOURNE:
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 15 Min 8.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 16 Min 5.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 17 Min 9.
Tuesday: Showers. Maximum 15 Min 11.
CANBERRA:
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 15 min 1.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 15 min 0.
Monday: Cloudy. Maximum 15 Min 4.
Tuesday: Showers. Maximum 13 Min 5.
DARWIN:
Saturday: Sunny. High 33 Min 21.
Sunday: Sunny. Maximum 33 Min 20.
Monday: Partly cloudy. High 32 Min 21.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 33 Min 22.
HOBART:
Saturday: Showers or two clearings. Maximum 13 Min 7.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 14 Min 6.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Maximum 15 Min 8.
Tuesday: Shower or two. Maximum 14 Min 9.