| Mass evacuations as floods threaten Wagga Wagga and Urana Levee protecting Wagga Wagga is in danger of failing Murrumbidgee River creeps to highest level in 159 years Urana, southwest of Wagga Wagga, evacuated by air AN urgent evacuation order has been issued for central Wagga Wagga in southern NSW as floodwaters threaten to reach a 159-year high. 90 metres by midday (AEDT). The Riverina region and the state's central west continues to be the main focus for emergency services. A mass evacuation of the city, in the state's southwest, and its suburbs was ordered last night, with an estimated 8000 people leaving their homes. At 4. There were 10 flood rescues carried out. There are four evacuation centres in Wagga Wagga. Overnight into today the SES received 1700 calls for help. In one case, SES volunteers helped rescue two adults, one infant, two horses, two dogs, two cats and 10 kittens from a single property. "Should the levee fail and the water enters the CBD, and other areas in Wagga Wagga, then people ought to be in the evacuation centre, not in their homes or businesses," Mr Geske continued. NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell is due to tour Wagga Wagga this morning. The last time it reached that level was July 1853. "We will be evacuating more people by air, it's the only way to get them out, all the roads are cut and Urana is effectively isolated," he added. Mr Geske said more people would be evacuated from Urana, southwest of Wagga Wagga, today. This brought the total number of people evacuated on account of floods across NSW to almost 13,000. 2 metres and steadily rising, just 77 centimetres below the all-time record set in 1844. It's forecast to reach 10. . |
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Mass evacuations as floods threaten Wagga Wagga and Urana
