NSW flooding live updates: Second body found in NSW Mid North Coast floodwaters, 50,000 prepare to evacuate

Here is a list of evacuation centres as of 3.30pm Thursday. 

• Dungog RSL Club, Lord St 
• Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club, Parkes St
• Kempsey Showground, 19 Sea Street, West Kempsey 
• Wingham RSL Club, Bent Street in Wingham 
• Club Taree, Wingham Road in Taree 
• Bulahdelah Golf Club, Recovery Rd 
• Club Gloucester, Denison St 
• Manning Point Bowling Club, Manning Street 
• Panthers Port Macquarie, Bay Street 
• Coffs Harbour C.ex Club, Vernon Street
• Nambucca RSL Club, Nelson St 
• Old Bar Bowling Club, 1 Belford St 
• Coopernook Hall, 12 Macquarie Street 
• Wauchope Showground, 93A High St

You can find more info on opening times here.

The NSW DPI Director of Emergency management believes the impact on agriculture will be significant.

“We will certainly be gathering data after flood recedes and get a good clear picture of the impact,” Leigh Pilkingtone told the NSW Country Hour.

“We’re seeing some of that [already] with animals being washed away and showing up on beaches.”

Dr Pilkington says the NSW DPI has already seen requests for assistance for fodder and animal welfare issues.

“We’ve had 42 cases so far, 33 requests for assistance and we’re helping with a little bit of fodder and disposal [of animals],” he says.

“We expect those numbers to really increase when it’s safe for everyone to get out and see what the damage is.”

For help with fodder or animals, you can call the Agricultural and Animal Services Functional Area Hotline on 1800 814 647.

My colleague and ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders has provided an update on what’s unfolded today and what is ahead.

He says it’s been the wettest May on record for parts of the Mid North Coast.

So what’s expected for the rest of today across NSW?

He says rain across the Sydney region will become heavier and peak overnight.

“There are a couple of severe weather warnings in force for flash flooding for the Mid North Coast, possibly still 150mm in a six-hour period up until this evening,” he said.

“Overnight tonight, flash flooding is possible for the Lower Hunter, the Blue Mountains and the northern part of the Southern Highlands.”

He said the trough that has been bringing heavy rain all week had now deepened into a low pressure system which would track down the coast over the next 24 hours.

You can watch Tom Saunders’ full explanation here:

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Essential services, including power, water and telecoms are starting to be impacted in the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.

Here’s what you can do to get ready:

• Unplug computers, gaming consoles, smart devices and televisions before severe weather hits.
• Turn off electrical and gas-powered appliances (even if you’ve already lost power). 

During an emergency: 

• Stay away from powerlines, trees and watercourses (always assume fallen powerlines are live) 
• Don’t connect portable generators to the electrical wiring of your house. 

After an emergency: 

• Do not attempt to reconnect power or gas yourself.
• All electrical connections affected by water should be inspected by an electrician before you use them again. 

You can find out how your area is affected here. 

The Macleay River is moving at speed as it sits above the major flood level.

The water around Kempsey’s main bridge pylons is absolutely churning as it carries vegetation and debris downriver.

We’ve been told by a couple of different locals that the Macleay River in flood is the second fastest flowing river in the southern hemisphere.

Authorities have closed the roads into the CBD, including across the main bridge.

But plenty of people are walking in and out and using the bridge to view the water.

Just two months after Cyclone Alfred caused widespread flooding across NSW, the state is once again besieged by floodwaters.

On Thursday morning, there were 140 flood warnings for NSW, with 50,000 people being told to prepare to evacuate.

Here are three maps that show how much of the state is affected by the weather event.

The communities around the NSW coastline are known for being “resilient” in the face of natural disasters.

Authorities and emergency service officials say takeaways from the “biblical” Lismore floods three years ago are being used to tackle this week’s inundation response.

You can read more about what that looks like in action here:

An aviation fuel tank has washed down the flooded Hastings River in Port Macquarie and landed up against the Town Green wharf, in the centre of town.

Fire and Rescue NSW Hazardous Materials Unit and the Port Macquarie Hastings Council have secured the tank, which is yet to be removed from the river.

ABC meteorologist Tom Saunders has taken a look at some of the biggest rain totals around the state over the past week.

The biggest was recorded at Mt Seaview with 662 millimetres with Careys Peak not far behind with 614mm.

The rain is moving south to Sydney, which has recorded 73mm over the past 7 days, later today.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has praised communities as “fantastic” for not panic buying during this flooding event.

“We would ask you to continue that,” he said.

“There is a plan for resupply.

“Buy what you need, be responsible and understand that if you take something from the shelf that is not required it may be from your neighbours’s pantry or fridge.

“It is important that we work together.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the ADF “stands ready” to provide “all assistance necessary” to support relief efforts.

“We are working very closely with the NSW State Emergency Service,” he said.

“We are doing this through National Emergency Management Australia.

“At this point in time, one defence contracted helicopter has been engaged in the effort in relation to these floods.

“But we stand ready to provide whatever other assistance required in terms of providing all the necessary assistance that is needed.”

Searches continue for two missing people in floodwaters on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

A woman in her 60s was travelling between Armidale and Coffs Harbour last night when her car reportedly became trapped in floodwaters on Morora Road, Brooklana — about 30km west of Coffs Harbour.

Police searched the area, but they were unable to locate the woman or her vehicle.

In a separate incident last night, police reported that a man in his 40s was missing after walking near a flooded roadway at Nymboida, about 40km south of Grafton.

A major rescue operation is continuing across the state, with residents stranded in floodwaters and on rooftops.

A body has been discovered in floodwaters on the Mid North Coast, believed to be that of a man in his 30s who went missing last night.

At about 8.50pm yesterday, emergency services were called to the intersection of the Oxley Highway and Huntingdon Road near Rosewood, about 4km west of Wauchope, following reports a man had become stuck in floodwater while driving.

The search was suspended overnight after authorities couldn’t find the man or his vehicle.

After the search resumed this morning, a body was found about 8am near Rosewood.

While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing man, aged in his 30s.

It marks the flood disaster’s second death after a 63-year-old man was found dead in a home near Taree yesterday.

Police are investigating circumstances around the death of the man found in Rosewood and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

NSW SES northern zone commander chief superintendent Andrew Cribb has been questioned on the conditions his volunteers are facing.

He said the speed at which the river rises came through was “like something the locals haven’t seen”.

“We believe it is why so many people didn’t take the time to evacuate because they get an evacuation warning and they know how long it normally takes,” he said.

“It has come so fast.”

Mr Cribb said it meant the SES had to  “change completely” the way they tactically approached flood rescues.

He said where the freeway or the M1 was cut in several locations, SES volunteers were stuck in areas for 24 hours on the roadway, sleeping in their cars.

“It was too unsafe for our volunteers to get through and progress those rescue efforts,” he said.

He said the SES was also using heavy helicopters to relocate vessels to areas they couldn’t access by boat, because the river was flowing too rapidly.

“It is impractical to do so and dangerous as well as it is too dangerous to drive towing the vehicle to get there,” he said.

A man who was found dead in floodwaters in Moto, north of Taree, has been remembered as a “selfless” hero.

Dave Knowles, 63, was found on his veranda at his home on North Moto road about 3pm on Wednesday.

His daughter, who didn’t want to be named, said the grandfather was found in ankle-deep water after likely suffering a medical incident.

She said he was approached by an SES evacuation crew on Tuesday, but directed the crew to another family further upstream, and couldn’t be located afterwards.

“He was selfless,” his daughter said.

“He wanted that boat to save this other family first.”

She said Mr Knowles worked at the local bakery in Coopernook and was a well-loved member of the community.

“He’s dealt with floods like this since he was 15, that’s why he didn’t think it would get this high,” she said.

“He’d give you the jumper on your back if you were freezing, he was just like that.”

You can read more below.

Written by my colleagues Victoria Pengilley and Claudia Jambor.

Mr Minns says saving lives will be the top priority for the SES, followed by ensuring those “isolated in difficult circumstances” are rescued and taken to higher ground.

He said the third priority is resupply.

“Now, that will mean necessarily that people will be spending an uncomfortable night, maybe an uncomfortable couple of days,” he said.

“But I just want them to know – help will be on the way.

“But the priority has to be to save somebody’s life.

“And as you can see, with 500 flood rescues in the last 48 hours, they’re incredibly busy.”

A rural community on the NSW Mid North Coast is mourning the death of 63-year-old David Knowles whose body was found in a flooded home on North Moto Road yesterday.

The loss has hit the farming community hard amid a flooding crisis during which they had to help themselves.

NSW Police say multi-agency search efforts are ongoing for three other people currently reported missing across the Mid North Coast.

You can read more below.

Written by my colleague Victoria Pengilley and Claudia Jambor.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has reiterated communities will “have to brace for more bad news”.

It comes after a 63-year-old’s body was found in a flooded home on North Moto Road yesterday.

Emergency services also have concerns for three other people reported missing in separate incidents on the Mid North Coast.

“I know this is a very difficult time for families and for people who are worried about loved ones,” Mr Minns said.

“This will be a difficult few days and we’re not out of the woods yet.”

Mr Wassing says the SES is planning for wind and potentially some rainfall to continue into the next week.

He says Victoria and the ACT will be providing additional SES resourcing.

“We continue to monitor any additional resources where we need to make sure that the locals actually get a rest, but also that we continue to have the resources that are suitable for the area,” he said.

“I’m very comfortable with the current resourcing arrangements that we have, but we’ll continue to monitor that as the situation continues to evolve.”