As intense weather impacts the Mid North Coast and Hunter region, emergency services report that key lessons from previous major floods along the NSW coast have been both understood and implemented.
One person has lost their life, and three others are currently unaccounted for, as heavy rainfall continues across the region, possibly marking the fourth straight day with totals exceeding 100 millimetres.
Over 1,000 volunteers, emergency responders, and defence personnel are actively involved in rescue operations and addressing storm damage in the northern parts of the state.
As of midday Thursday, nearly 150 weather warnings were active, with around 50,000 people in areas advised to prepare for potential evacuation.
According to a Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) update before midday, while rainfall is set to continue for several more hours, the intensity is expected to ease before tapering off on Friday.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines stated that the heaviest rain would likely fall in the northeast on Thursday, with significantly drier conditions anticipated the following day.
The Northern Rivers region, heavily impacted by the catastrophic Lismore floods in February 2022, which caused multiple fatalities and extensive financial loss, prompted a state government-commissioned independent inquiry and a local recovery report.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said valuable insights had been gained over the years. Speaking on Thursday morning, he noted the potential for further incidents following the recovery from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and severe weather in March.
Dib emphasized that emergency services began planning and deploying resources over a week before the weather system arrived, highlighting improved preparation.
He also stressed the importance of layered communication strategies. Instead of issuing immediate evacuation orders, alert systems like the Hazard Near Me app now follow a staged approach—from “watch and act” to “prepare to evacuate,” then “evacuate,” and finally “move to higher ground”—to keep residents informed at every stage.
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison noted enhanced coordination among agencies in recent years, particularly in how data is managed. She said operations had evolved from manual tracking methods to sophisticated computer systems that process data from the Bureau of Meteorology and other agencies.
Aitchison added that the slower pace of this event and ex-Cyclone Alfred had helped mitigate impact, though the community still faced high river levels and unpredictable rainfall on already saturated ground.
SES Northern Zone Commander Andrew Cribb said improved procedures for life-threatening rescues had been activated, directly stemming from policies established after the Lismore floods.
He highlighted that access to upgraded infrastructure and high-clearance vehicles had significantly improved response efforts.
Cribb added that flooding was affecting usual low-lying areas in the Hunter region, but praised the resilience of local communities in facing recurring flood challenges.
