Flood risk downgraded as wild weather eases
People on the NSW north coast are breathing a collective sigh of relief, with flood warnings in the area downgraded after heavy rains lashed the region.
Calmer conditions are forecast for Sunday, but the NSW State Emergency Service warns everyone should remain vigilant and steer clear of flood waters.
The SES downgraded warnings to ‘advice’ from ‘watch and act, prepare to evacuate’ on Sunday morning after heavy rain and flooding in areas around Lismore.
“The flood risk remains, but at minor levels,” a spokesperson told AAP on Sunday.
Minor flooding is also expected in the Tweed and Rous Rivers, Wilsons River, Richmond River and Orara River.
A minor-to-moderate flood warning is current for the Bellinger River.
Not only have flood warnings in the area been downgraded, but severe weather warnings have been cancelled for the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands districts, giving locals a reprieve from wild winds that also smashed the region.
The SES responded to more than 270 calls for help in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday, receiving 628 calls for help since the wild weather began on Friday.
SES volunteers doorknocked homes in Lismore on Saturday night warning residents to prepare to evacuate.
Two adults and a baby had to be rescued from rising floodwaters in Cougal, west of Tweed Heads, while there was another rescue in nearby Uki as a car towing a vehicle got stuck on a causeway.
Two others were rescued after driving into flood waters late on Saturday and early on Sunday morning.
About 4300 energy customers in the region were without power on Saturday night, hundreds are still without power, with easing conditions expected to make it easier for workers to restore it.
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