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Australia: Elderly Evacuated in Floods
Australian Associated Press
Australia
June 9, 2007
Rising flood waters have forced the evacuation of 65 elderly residents at a NSW Central Coast nursing home, emergency services say.
Several hundred more people in the Hunter region have also been warned they may need to leave their homes.
The State Emergency Service (SES) is moving to safety the residents of the nursing home situated beside the Wyong River. The home has been cut off by rising waters.
Evacuation ‘just a precaution’
"As a precaution those residents are being taken to higher ground," SES spokesman Philip Campbell says. "That will be done using high-clearance vehicles and flood boats."
In the Hunter, the SES is doorknocking 30 properties in Singleton and another 100 on the Maitland fringe to advise residents they may need to evacuate.
An average of 140mm of rain was dumped on the Hunter River Valley in the 24 hours to 6am today with some areas receiving 200mm.
Further doorknocks would be necessary if the predicted flood heights were reached, Mr Campbell says.
Wild weather expected to continue
More powerful winds forecast for later today and tonight are expected to bring down trees and powerlines.
"We are asking people to stay away from flooded areas still, particularly in the Hunter and Central Coast regions," Mr Campbell says.
Around 750 SES, Rural Fire Service and NSW Fire Brigades personnel are working in teams to concentrate on repairing storm damage tonight.
Mr Campbell said the SES had received 7,000 calls since Thursday night at a rate of over 100 an hour.
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