Northern New South Wales is bracing for potential major flooding in the wake of Cyclone Alfred.
The New South Wales Education Department has closed down 122 schools in the Northern Rivers region as Premier Chris Minns warns locals to prepare for potential extreme weather.
Minns said the government had a “massive State Emergency Service (SES) contingent” with all hands on deck.
But he also put forward a sobering warning about the dangers of going into floodwaters.
“If this is a major natural weather event, a natural disaster on a huge proportion, we are asking the community to do their bit too,” he said.
Minns encouraged people in the community who believe their homes may be at risk to act quickly and seek out shelter at one of the many evacuation centres dotted throughout the region.
“Under no circumstances or no event—do not drive through floodwaters or walk through floodwaters,” he warned.
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“It is the major way people lose their lives in these natural emergencies, because they take the risk of driving through floodwaters.
“Please use common sense. Do not drive through flood waters.”
Minns said motorists driving into flooded areas risk not only their own lives, but those of their passengers and rescue crews.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Northern NSW on March 4 and intends to return later on March 5.
Apps to Download
Minns encouraged everyone who could to download four essential mobile apps, which he believes will be helpful in adverse conditions.
The Emergency Plus app to give rescuers a precise location, Hazards Near Me for hazard information, Live Traffic to show road conditions, and BoM Weather for forecasts.
The SES is warning people in potentially affected areas to tidy up around their homes, trim trees away from properties, and park vehicles away from trees and powerlines due to potential for strong winds.
“Due to potential impacts from Tropical Cyclone Alfred, including a heightened risk of flooding … schools from the Clarence Valley north to the Queensland border, and inland to the Kyogle Shire will be non-operational from (March 5-7),” an education department statement said.
“We request families in affected areas to not send your children to school for the next three days.”
Schools are expected to reopen on Monday, March 10.
