In case you have been living in a vacuum-sealed pod in a waterproof bunker you would have noticed it’s been raining.
‘We’re in damage control,’ a Tweed LAC police officer said when contact- ed by The Echo on Monday. He said a remote command post had been established by the duty officer and he was assisting the SES and other res- cue services with the unfolding road closures, fallen trees, power lines and rescue calls.
Waves of up to seven metres lashed the coast Monday morning and near- ly 500mm of rain has been reported near Mullumbimby since 9am Sun- day, as the brunt of ex-tropical cy- clone Oswald batters our region.
Destructive winds are forecast to continue, with peak gusts of 140km/h over parts of the northern rivers.
It is estimated 1300 people are already isolated by floodwaters in
northern NSW. In breaking news it was reported by
ABC online that a section of Tweed Hospital roof had been blown away.
As of going to press the Pacific Highway remains open; however, Tweed Valley Way (west of the Pa- cific Highway) is closed to traffic near Murwillumbah. Bangalow Rd, between Bangalow and Lismore, is also closed.
Police are urging drivers to slow down and use extreme caution in the current wet weather conditions, after a number of serious crashes across the state. Officers attended 127 major crashes on Saturday, where 46 people suffered injuries, but fortunately no deaths have so far been reported.
For the latest traffic information visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.
For emergency help in floods and storms call SES on 132 500.
For general flood warnings see www.ses.nsw.gov.au. For weather warnings check www.bom.gov.au.