The SES is preparing for another big day in Sydney after carrying out 61 overnight flood rescues.
The south-west of the city is now suffering from the weight of the flood emergency, with rising waters threatening the homes of Liverpool and Milperra.
More than 100 mm of rain has fallen in many places off the coast of NSW in the last 24 hours, with 35,000 people forced so far to flee their homes.
The army goes to the streets of Sydney to help in the flood crisis
SES Deputy Commissioner Sean Kearns said the ongoing rain, which is expected to decrease throughout the day, remains a source of concern.
“Our biggest concern today is the ongoing river flooding along the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Georges rivers, and our areas of interest are McGraths Hill, Pitt Town, Woronora, Liverpool and Milperra,” he told 9News.
Meanwhile, residents of nearly two dozen Sydney councils and parts of the NSW coast have been eligible for disaster assistance as the state’s flood emergency continues. The announcement of funding was made on Monday afternoon, when more evacuation orders were issued and the Meteorological Office even warned. with declining rainfall overnight, heavy localized rains could cause sudden flooding in parts of Sydney and the Hunter region.
This adds to the dozens of evacuation orders that already exist, especially in the west of Sydney.
A man is rescued from his car by State Emergency Service workers in Windsor, Sydney. (Getty)
“We have seen some of these affected communities be affected by floods for the third and fourth time in 18 months, which is extremely distressing for residents of these communities,” the Federal Minister of Emergency Management said. Murray Watt, in a statement released across the state. Emergency Service shortly before 11pm on Monday.
“The governments of Australia and New South Wales have been working very cooperatively during this latest flood emergency, to ensure that defense and other resources are deployed quickly and quickly.
“Similarly, we are now working hard together to make sure the affected communities receive the financial and other assistance they need as soon as possible.”
Support for Commonwealth-State disaster recovery funding agreements is available in the local government areas of Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Canterbury Bankstown, Campbelltown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Kiama, Lithgow, Liverpool, Northern. Beaches, Penrith, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Sutherland, The Hills, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong.
Heavy flooding west of Penrith. (9 News)
More than 30,000 people were on alert for flooding across the state with more than 70 evacuation orders issued Monday afternoon.
Authorities continue to warn of the dangers and urge people in the affected areas not to travel unless strictly necessary.
A family of five, including a pregnant mother, was rescued from a car in flood waters in Hurstville shortly before 5:30 p.m.
Firefighters said they went to the car and put flood jackets on the family, before carrying the children, all under the age of six, in their arms and guiding the parents through the water to relatives who were waiting nearby.
New South Wales Minister of Emergency Services Steph Cooke said significant support would be needed for the recovery.
The roads are underwater and there are evacuation orders for Riverstone. (9 News)
“Today’s announcement will ensure immediate assistance to affected communities, including assistance for people who have lost or suffered damage to their home,” he said in the SES press release.
“While we are still in the emergency response phase of this developing weather event, as the waters recede, we will work with communities to assess long-term recovery needs and ensure that support is provided. appropriate in the long term “.
Funding may include aid for people with damaged housing and belongings, support for municipalities to clean up and set interest rates, subsidies for the transport of goods for primary producers and loans at favorable rates.
The State Emergency Service has responded to hundreds of calls for assistance and seven evacuation centers have been set up.
Darkest Forest, Lucas Heights, Horsley Park and Fairfield City had more than 100 millimeters of rain between 12 noon and 9 a.m. Monday and other parts of the state have seen levels of rain that had not been seen in three decades.
State Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said it was a “life-threatening emergency.” (new)
But there was some good news, with forecasters expecting a trough on the central coast to move north overnight.
Although rainfall rates have generally been reduced, heavy localized rains that could cause a firefight are still possible during Tuesday night in Sydney Metropolitan and parts of Hunter districts (including the central coast), ”he said. say the office, in a severe weather warning issued around 10:45 p.m., Monday.
“Isolated total rainfall of three hours between 40 and 60 mm is possible.
“Rainfall in the southern parts of the Sydney metropolitan area will continue to decline as showers and rainfall areas shrink north to Hunter district.
Harmful winds with gusts of up to 100 km / h were also expected to decrease by Tuesday.
“Harmful winds can cause debris on the roads and lead to the risk of trees falling on softer, more saturated soils,” the office said.
“The rains will further contribute to the floods that are already being experienced and maintain (sic) the potential for landslides.”