Northern Territory Emergency Service members are continuing to respond to a significant flooding event in the wake of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie.
Following a one in 50-year rain event at Timber Creek yesterday residents of outstations at Gilwi and Myatt reported that floodwaters were encroaching on houses and, one elderly resident had to be carried 200m through floodwaters by police and a local ranger to higher ground.
For the 24 hours to 9am today a total of 241.5 mm of rain fell at Timber Creek, with 157.5mm of that falling in 6 hours.
The flooding has forced the closure of a number of roads in the Victoria River District, including the Victoria Highway, which is currently impassable from Timber Creek to the WA border.
As the tropical low continues to move south the Bureau of Meteorology said that 24-hour rainfall totals as high as 350mm are possible.
In order to be able to respond to the severe weather event across the Territory in the coming days, the NT Emergency Service has established emergency operations centres in Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.
To help the Northern Territory Emergency Service keep Territorians safe, people are advised to:
- avoid driving into water of unknown depth and current
- stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways, if it’s flooded, forget it!
- pull over if it is raining heavily and you cannot see, park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears
- secure loose outside objects and seek shelter when conditions deteriorate
- create your own sandbags if there is flooding, by using pillow cases or shopping bags filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home
- ensure pets and animals are safe
- be prepared in case of power outages, have an emergency kit with a radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit
- treat all floodwater as potentially contaminated with sewage
- flooding may increase the risk of mosquito-borne diseases so cover up with long, loose-fitting clothing and use mosquito repellents
- stagnant water around homes and gardens should also be removed.
For emergency help in floods, storms and cyclones, contact the NTES on 132 500.
For more safety tips visit www.securent.nt.gov.au
To find out which roads are closed go to the www.roadreport.nt.gov.au
