World news – Thousands could be evacuated if western Sydney residents were forced to flee

The collision of two strong weather systems over the east coast of NSW on Monday evening could result in further evacuations as residents of west Sydney were forced to flee to a higher level on Sunday as the flood flooded their neighborhoods. </ The state rescue service ordered around 1,000 residents of West Penrith, Jamisontown, and Mulgoa to pack and leave or be caught by rising floods.

NSW Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian warned that up to 4,000 would People in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley could be displaced.

Nearly 140 schools have closed, roads and bridges have been cut off, COVID-19 vaccine rollouts have been delayed in parts of Sydney and NSW due to extreme weather, and supplies of supermarkets was also obstructed.

Later on Sunday, Newcastle Airport also suspended flights due to flooding on the runway and issued a warning ss the airfield could remain closed until Wednesday.

Ms Berejiklian said parts of western Sydney are suffering a weather event of 1:50 years. Various parts of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river network are of concern as the Warragamba Dam, which holds 75 percent of its storage capacity from the event to the catchment area, continues to overflow.

« What we are going through now is different what you have been through for the past 50 years. So please take it seriously, « said the Prime Minister on Sunday afternoon.

 » It is the persistent rain, the fact that the weather event has settled in, that it will not go on , and of course the capacity of the [Warragamba Dam] and what that could mean.  » Of course, if it’s a one-in-50 year event, it has a huge impact on rainfall and rainfall. « 

Ms Berejiklian said dam levels should have been lowered to around 20 or 25 percent to account for the impending rainfall.

Emergency Services Minister David Elliott announced 16 national disaster statements for communities throughout NSW by his federal colleague, Minister David Littleproud.

« As of today (Sunday) we are starting the recovery phase. So these national disaster declarations mean that residents affected by this flood can receive this support, » said Elliott .

Mr Littleproud said the federal government has enabled the Australian Government’s Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance to help the hardest hit.

The funding provides assistance to people who have a significant impact Suffered loss, including badly damaged or destroyed home, serious injury, or the death of a Family member who emerged as a direct result of the extreme weather.

« Our first concern is the safety and needs of those directly affected, especially those whose homes have been flooded, » said Littleproud.

« Me I wish you all security in these troubled times, « he said in a video posted on social media.

Mr Morrison said the New South Wales government would have further Commonwealth assistance if Ms Berejiklian decided: « We will support them if necessary through the defense forces and other authorities. »

The support comes when the Bureau of Meteorology warned on Sunday that the collision of two weather systems over NSW on Monday evening and Tuesday morning would trigger further increases in the river could.

Meteorologist Rob Taggart said the meeting of a low pressure system from the northwest and a high pressure system over the Tasman w o would create a « final blast » of rain and storms for the extreme weather event that would last through Wednesday and continue to affect people in floodplains, including western Sydney, until the end of the week.

He said it would too causing further misery to residents of the central north coast of NSW, who have already seen widespread damage, urged those on the south coast – who see high levels of flood watch and warning – to be vigilant.

He said , Parts of Sydney could see another 150 millimeters of precipitation in the next 48 hours.

« The average fall is 100 millimeters widespread – this will cause the river to rise: the landscape is so saturated that any precipitation is direct flows into the river. « 

The Hawkesbury River in Richmond could reach a height of more than 16 meters on Monday morning as the level of the Nepean River in Penrith exceeded 10 meters on Sunday afternoon t was higher than the 1961 flood event.

The SES issued an evacuation order after 3 p.m. for all properties within the Nepean-bound area south of the Great Western Highway and west of Peach Tree Creek. The evacuation route of the Western Highway would be interrupted by rising floods, and they should gather their essentials and leave.

On the central north coast, there are concerns about the Hastings River, which is 7.5 m high in Wauchope late Sunday evening Should reach its peak.

The town of Kendall south of Port Macquarie registered 700mm of rain in four days.

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Rachel Clun is a federal health policy reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.